Key Takeaways
- Vampire manhwa cover a wide range of genres, not just horror and supernatural.
- Some vampire manhwa take place in real-world settings, showcasing the struggle of hiding vampire identities.
- Vampire romances are a popular theme in manhwa, even in genres like comedy and school life.
In every medium of entertainment, fans are sure to find a good vampire story, of which there are plenty in the manhwa community (a.k.a. Korean comics). Many of the most popular manhwa of various genres are based on these creatures of the night and their never-ending quest to quench their thirst for blood.
Vampire stories nowadays feature in genres beyond horror and supernatural (or even romance), so their stories have extended to a diverse range of readers. From running gags involving trying to get blood to vampire-human romances, these vampire manhwas are sure to bring out the best of these perennial blood-sucking characters.
Updated August 30th, 2024, by Beatrice Bogiatto: Enjoy this updated list with some extra vampire manhwa entries, from a hilarious misunderstanding between a vampire and a vampire hunter, to a cute real-world human-vampire romance, these four new vampire manhwa recommendations are sure to quench any reader’s thirst.
10
The Unquenchable Mr. Kim
Feeding Upon The Boss
- Written by: Morak
- Illustrated by: Morak
- Genres: Yaoi, Drama, Work Life
- Completed: Yes (61 Chapters, including extras)
- Where To Read: Lezhin Comics
Most media featuring vampires usually have them in fantasy settings, but this is far from the case with this dramatic Boys Love manhwa The Unquenchable Mr. Kim. Instead, the manhwa takes place in the real world, with the main character trying to hide his vampire status from his fellow office workers being a recurring theme.
Being a half-vampire instead of a natural one, Kim Doyoon chooses to feast upon the libido of humans due to his inability to develop a taste for blood. However, he unexpectedly ends up in a secret relationship with his boss Lee Kangwoo when Kim’s health starts to deteriorate due to lack of feeding.
9
I’ve Picked Up A Vampire
Accidentally Bringing Home A Blood Sucker
- Written by: Cuula
- Illustrated by: Cuula
- Genre(s): Romance, Love Triangle, Past Lives/Time Travel
- Completed: No
- Where To Read: Novelcool
I’ve Picked Up A Vampire develops around a unique concept: set in a mostly ordinary world, the protagonist, Acacia, is (on the surface) an ordinary college student. Secretly, she is also a vampire hunter who tracks low-rank vampires to save people’s lives. Her side quests take an odd turn when she accidentally brings a vampire home.
Eric is a vampire who just woke up from a hundred-year-sleep, and he is somewhat confused by his awakening. What starts off as an accident ends up as a consequence of events that will lead to Acacia and Eric’s lives being intertwined forever, much deeper than they believe them to be.
8
Vampire Library
Is Everyone Here A Vampire?
- Written by: Sun-Young Lee
- Illustrated by: Sun-Young Lee
- Genre(s): Action, Yaoi, Supernatural
- Completed: Yes (Not all chapters have been translated)
- Where To Read: Novelcool
Keeping with the trend of a real-world setting, Vampire Library’s main setting is a public library that is the workplace of its eccentric vampire cast. But rather than have a vampire as its main character, this manhwa instead focuses on a human character’s reaction to finding out about his coworker’s shocking secret.
The story starts with Mano Yu, a white-haired part-time librarian, being exasperated with his coworkers and their eccentricities; he initially believes them to be hardcore vampire enthusiasts. It is only when Yu is attacked by one of his coworkers for his blood that he finally understands that the rest of the library staff are actual vampires.
7
Untouchable
Sucking Blood Is Old-Fashioned
- Written by: Masstar
- Illustrated by: Masstar
- Genre(s): Action, Yaoi, Supernatural
- Completed: Yes (139 Chapters)
- Where To Read: Webtoon
Unlike most vampire manhwa, which usually retains vampires’ signature habit of sucking blood, the vampires in Untouchable, namely the main vampire heroine Sia Lee, absorb human energy by simply making physical contact with them. This allows Sia to blend in with the rest of society while keeping her status as a vampire a secret.
Due to her good looks, Sia Lee has had no problems concerning feeding, though her father advised her to feed only as a means of survival. After a chance meeting with Jiho Shin, however, Sia finds herself at a loss due to how unique and soothing his energy is, despite Jiho mistaking her for a stalker.
6
Delicious Blood
Owning 100 Million Won To A Vampire
- Written by: ZQ, La Lune, Rosa
- Illustrated by: Ttuittui
- Genre(s): Comedy, Romance
- Completed: No
- Where To Read: Lezhin Comics
The unfortunate student Choi Yu-Jeung gets involved in an accident that indebts her to the exorbitant sum of 100 million Won (around $75.000) to a café named Delicious Blood. In this comical and cute manhwa, Yu-Jeung finds herself working at the place to repay her debt, as per the suggestion of the owner.
However, soon she will find out that the owner is kind of… weird? Why does he keep telling her she smells sweet? Is he just flirting with her? Readers will enjoy this adorable vampire-human romance manhwa set in an otherwise ordinary world.
5
Noblesse
Waking Up As A Student 820 Years Later
- Written by: Jeho Son
- Illustrated by: Kwangsu Lee
- Genre(s): Action, Werewolves/Vampires, Character Arcs
- Completed: Yes (139 Chapters)
- Where To Read: Webtoon
Rai took quite a long nap, as he woke up 820 years later as a high school student. The school, founded by his ever-loyal servant, at first provides him with some peace of mind and human interaction. Of course, peace is short-lived; with a whirlwind of accidents, kidnappings and a mysterious entity, Rai is forced to step up.
Noblesse is good for readers looking for a vampire story that includes werewolves, a gorgeous art style, and powerful character arcs, not just for the main character. Plus, this manhwa has gotten an anime adaptation, which means any fans of the series should check out its inspiration.
4
Bloody Sweet
Unintentionally Adopting A Vampire
- Written by: Narae Lee
- Illustrated by: Narae Lee
- Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, School Life
- Completed: Yes (90 Chapters, including extras)
- Where To Read: Tappytoon
Even amidst the more casual genres, such as comedy or slice-of-life, vampire romances remain a popular subject, as demonstrated by the manhwa Bloody Sweet. Taking a departure from the fantasy-esque settings seen in most vampire stories, this manhwa is instead a perfect blend of high school life and the supernatural while staying true to vampire lore.
After enduring severe bullying both at school and during a field trip, high schooler Naerim Shin is forced to open a mysterious cabinet by her tormentors after exploring a similarly creepy church. Once she opens it, however, she meets the vampire Vlad Fetechou, who proceeds to follow Naerim around everywhere she goes.
3
Vampire Family
My First Human Boyfriend
- Written by: Unfins
- Illustrated by: Unfins
- Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, School Life
- Completed: No
- Where To Read: Webtoon
Does love at first sight exist? According to Natalia, the middle child of the isolated Dragomir family, Evangelo fell for her the moment she walked into school. Except she has never interacted with humans before. She comes from a family of vampires, and Evangelo is a vampire hunter, fully aware of her nature.
While Evangelo sets his mind initially on hunting her to finally earn his spot in the family, Natalia becomes convinced he is crushing on her, and a series of events and misunderstandings end up with them… dating? This is a very different vampire manhwa (with non-Korean characters) than usual. It’s an exhilarating comedy with a serious and stern art style, contrasting with the almost absurd plot.
2
Delusion
A Deadly Painting And A Mysterious Woman
- Written by: Jac-ga Hong
- Illustrated by: Jac-ga Hong
- Genre(s): Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
- Completed: Yes (60 Chapters)
- Where To Read: Webtoon
Compared to the other entries on this list, Delusion makes a stark departure from the comedic and romantic tones the previous titles have established, replacing them with a truly dark, horror story shown in both its foreboding plot and semi-realistic artwork. Even the setting itself is dreary and suspenseful; every location in this manhwa is noticeably portrayed with various hues of gray.
In Delusion, struggling artist Iho Yun is tasked to paint a portrait of the reclusive belle Jeonhwa Song, who is said to never have set foot outside her hotel due to a strong hatred of her appearance. Initially believing Madam Song to be well in her old age, Iho Yun instead finds out that she is still very youthful despite her age, and that many artists before him have lost their lives trying to paint Madam Song’s portrait.
1
Unholy Blood
Hunting Her Own Kind
- Written by: Lina Im
- Illustrated by: Lina Im
- Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Completed: Yes (13 Chapters, including extras)
- Where To Read: Webtoon
Though other manhwa on this lsit may focus on the vampires themselves, Unholy Blood instead focuses on vampire hunters, who often have a slew of reasons for slaying the infamous blood-sucking creatures. In this case, Hayan Park, the powerful main heroine of this manhwa, seeks revenge on vampire-kind for causing an apocalypse and ruining any chance she had of living a normal life.
Before the appearance of vampires in human society, Hayan was previously a caretaker at her local orphanage, usually scaring off any suspicious or rowdy characters that caused trouble in the area. After discovering her vampiric powers and witnessing her adoptive father’s death, however, Hayan decides to hunt vampires to bring peace back to the world.