If you've started exploring Korean comics, you've probably seen the words webtoon, manhwa, manga, and maybe manhua used almost interchangeably — sometimes in the same sentence. It's confusing, and honestly, even longtime fans mix them up. So let's clear it up once and for all.
Manhwa = Korean comics. Manga = Japanese comics. Manhua = Chinese comics. They're the same word for "comics" in three languages. Webtoon is different — it's not a country, it's a format: a digital, full-colour comic designed to be scrolled vertically on your phone. Most webtoons are Korean manhwa, which is why the two words get mixed up.
What is manhwa?
Manhwa (만화) simply means "comics" or "cartoons" in Korean. It covers everything from printed comic books to the digital webtoons most international readers know today. When someone says "I love manhwa," they usually mean Korean comics — particularly the colourful, vertical-scroll webtoons published on apps like Webtoon, Tapas, and Lezhin.
Modern manhwa is overwhelmingly digital-first and full colour, and it's read left to right, top to bottom — exactly how you'd read English. That makes it especially easy for Western readers to pick up.
What is manga?
Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics, and it's the oldest and most globally recognised of the three. Manga is traditionally printed in black and white, collected in volumes (tankōbon), and — this is the big one — read right to left. If you've ever opened a manga from what feels like "the back," that's why.
Manga has a huge range of genres and a decades-deep history. Famous examples include One Piece, Naruto, and Demon Slayer. Many manga are later adapted into anime.
And manhua?
Manhua (漫画) is the Chinese word for comics. Like Korean manhwa, modern manhua is often digital, full colour, and vertically scrolled. The art style and storytelling can feel similar to Korean webtoons, so readers sometimes can't tell them apart at a glance. The main difference is simply the country (and language) of origin.
So what exactly is a "webtoon"?
Here's the part that trips everyone up. "Webtoon" is a format, not a nationality. The word is a blend of "web" + "cartoon," and it describes a comic that is:
- Digital-first — made for screens, not print
- Vertically scrolling — one long strip you scroll down, rather than flipping pages
- Usually full colour — and often paired with music or scroll effects
The webtoon format was pioneered in Korea in the early 2000s, which is why "webtoon" and "Korean manhwa" feel like the same thing — most of the famous ones are Korean. But technically a Japanese or Chinese comic published in vertical-scroll colour format is also a webtoon.
Manhwa vs Manga vs Manhua: at a glance
| Manhwa 🇰🇷 | Manga 🇯🇵 | Manhua 🇨🇳 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Korea | Japan | China |
| Reading direction | Left → right | Right → left | Left → right |
| Colour | Usually full colour | Usually black & white | Usually full colour |
| Typical format | Webtoon (vertical scroll) | Print pages / volumes | Webtoon (vertical scroll) |
| Adapted into | K-dramas & anime | Anime | Donghua (animation) |
So… is a webtoon a manhwa?
Most of the time, yes! If you're reading a Korean comic in vertical-scroll colour format, it's both a manhwa (Korean comic) and a webtoon (the format). The two words just describe different things about it — one tells you where it's from, the other tells you how it's made. Don't overthink it: if you love Korean webtoons, you love manhwa. 😊
Now you know the difference — here's where to read Korean webtoons in English, or jump straight into our best webtoons for beginners. Confused by a word you keep seeing? Our webtoon terms glossary explains them all.