BL Manhwa That Have Great Stories Beyond The Romance

Key Takeaways

• BL manhwa often focus on character relationships over plot, but some strike a balance for a more engaging story.
• Traces of the Sun dives into survivor’s guilt, trauma, and emotions beyond typical hunter storylines.
• Uncanny Charm showcases a natural romance progression through character development and unique backstories.

Boys’ Love is often seen in a range of themes and genres, ranging from classic romance to high fantasy to thriller and horror. In manhwa, many BL stories focus purely on the relationship between the main characters, which may seem obvious for a genre like this. However, these character-based narratives often have very little world-building or extra details other than what’s needed for the romance.

Not all Boys’ Love manhwa are like that. Some authors and artists have done a great job balancing an overarching plot with a well-paced romance, creating an entertaining story that is more than meet-cutes, angst, and miscommunication. The added plot complexity often enhances the relationships between characters because of the added context and information.

1 Traces Of The Sun

A Hunter Can’t Save His Friends Or Himself

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2021 to 2024
• Chapters: 95
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Boys Love, Superpowers, Psychological
• Author: Hae-neul Do
• Illustrator: Merin

Though there are many manhwa featuring hunters and dungeons, it’s only recently that LGBT characters have been featured in them. Traces of the Sun follows Jeong Yiseon, an S-class restorer who can completely rebuild cities in a matter of minutes. Despite his amazing power, Yiseon doesn’t appear in public due to a huge secret he keeps: he committed a taboo.

However, when his secret is found out by the strongest hunter, Sa Hyeon, he has no choice but to cooperate, joining Hyeon’s team to beat the hardest dungeons in the world. While this may seem like a generic hunter story, it’s a great dive into survivor’s guilt and trauma. The romance aspect only happens toward the end of the manhwa, which is okay, since the psychological aspect of the story is more important.

2 Angel Buddy

Consequences Of Breaking An Angel’s Wing

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
• Published: 2019 to 2021
• Chapters: 82
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Supernatural, Romance
• Author: MasterGin
• Illustrator: Chungnyun

There are many Boys Love manhwa that use supernatural elements in their storytelling, and Angel Buddy is one of the most popular. In this story, Kim Sooho has lived his entire life capable of seeing ghosts, and while this made him a bit of a black sheep, it was mostly an annoying part of life. However, it gets more complicated once the angel Taker appears in his life.

Because of Sooho’s abnormally strong soul, he’s being targeted by all kinds of supernatural forces. Taker is the only one who can protect him, and as they live together, their feelings towards each other grow. It’s an intriguing story that has many cute and fluffy moments. The ending does feel a bit rushed, but overall it’s a good story.

3 At The End Of The Road

Waking Up In Someone Else’s Body

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.73
• Published: 2016 to 2018
• Chapters: 26
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Drama, Suspense, Psychological, Reincarnation, School
• Author: Haribo
• Illustrator: Haribo

Reincarnation is one of the most popular themes in manhwa, and in this story, Yoon Taemin wakes up as Han Siwon after being hit by a car. Now in a completely new body and environment, Taemin must learn to cope with the trials that befell the original Siwon. Things get more confusing when he sees someone from his past going by a new name. However, it doesn’t take long before the truth behind Han Siwon’s death is revealed.

While much of the story is focused on rebuilding the relationship between Siwon (Taemin) and Min Siwoon, the overall plot is centered on the bullying that took place before the body swap happened, as well as the consequences of becoming a new person overnight. Some great moments dissect the psychological repercussions of reincarnation.

4 A Painter Behind The Curtain

The Unexpected Hardship Of Being A Painter

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.69
• Published: 2015 to 2019
• Chapters: 75
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Drama, Erotica, Historical
• Author: Munamu
• Illustrator: Munamu

Some call A Painter Behind The Curtain one of the most frustrating manhwa they’ve ever read, but that’s usually because of the emotional turmoil this manhwa causes. With enough scandals and secrets for a period drama on TV, this story follows Ian, a poor artist who works for a noble family as a ghost painter. His life is dark and lonely until he catches the attention of a wealthy merchant.

It’s a rags-to-riches story that turns into a sort of forbidden romance. Behind the illicit relationship between Ian and Raymond are plots of political intrigue and betrayal, slowly heating up until they boil over. The story is no longer just about the two of them; it’s about the prosperity of a nation.

5 Uncanny Charm

Accidentally Cursed By The Neighbor

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2020 to 2024
• Chapters: 108
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Supernatural, Romance
• Author: Kom
• Illustrator: Kom

Sometimes, a good BL manhwa doesn’t even start as a romance. In Uncanny Charm, Cho Yoonjae is a normal college student living his life, but when a guy named Beomjin moves in, he suddenly starts seeing spirits and ghosts. The reason is a cursed bell that attached itself to Yoonjae’s wrist. With no way to remove it, he must help Beomjin exorcise ghosts until they find a solution.

The best thing about stories like this is getting to know the characters before they begin their relationship. Yoonjae and Beomjin go through many situations and scenarios before they develop feelings for each other. It makes their romance feel much more natural and less like a plot device, especially in this story where both characters have such interesting backstories.

6 Eternal Covenant

A Bond Transcends Lifetimes

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.14
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Fantasy
• Author: Haejin
• Illustrator: Haejin

Plot-driven stories also have some of the slowest slow-burn romances. In Eternal Covenant, the main relationship hasn’t gotten together even after two seasons. The main character is Ian Gloucester, a templar knight of the kingdom of Derwin. Born with innate magic abilities, he has been reviled as a monster and devil since he was young, but one day he meets a stranger who doesn’t believe his power is a curse.

The biggest problem with slow-burn romances is that they can get very boring quickly, but Eternal Covenant has an interesting and intriguing story to tell aside from the protagonists getting together. Even if the romance isn’t official, the plot keeps the momentum going and helps build up the tension. When the romance eventually happens, it will be even better.

7 On Or Off

A College Start-Up Gets Its Big Break

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.96
• Published: 2019 to 2022
• Chapters: 91
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Erotica
• Author: A1
• Illustrator: A1

Of the titles on this list, On or Off is probably the closest to a traditional Romcom. This story is about Ahn Yiyoung and his friends starting their own business. When the time comes to pitch their proposal to SJ Corporation, technical malfunctions get them disqualified before they can actually present. Yiyoung pleads with the company’s director, Kang Daehyung, for a second chance, but ends up with more than he bargained for.

Office romances are nothing new, but very few of them pay attention to what’s going on inside the office. A large part of the story is watching a group of introverted college students partnering with a big company, completing projects, and dealing with office politics. All the while, the romance between Yiyoung and director Kang heats up in the background.

8 Killer Crush

A Professional Killer Falls In Love

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.02
• Published: 2021 to 2024
• Chapters: 77
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Comedy, Adult Cast, Organized Crime
• Author: Eresemo
• Illustrator: Eresemo

Hired killers are known for being empathetic or emotional, so Joo Taeman surprises himself when he develops feelings for renowned actor Kang Dahyeok. For his part, Kang Dahyeok is just trying to rebrand himself from prince charming to devilish bad boy when he meets Taeman for the first time. This mutual interest soon turns into a relationship full of secrets and insecurities.

As a romantic comedy, this manhwa is pretty lighthearted. While the relationship between the two is incredibly important to the plot, other aspects make the story more complicated and entertaining. Namely, the plans and designs of the criminal underbelly that Taeman is part of. His reputation as a killer is well-known, and it paints a target on his back even as he struggles to talk to his crush.

9 King’s Maker

Unlikely Allies Overthrow A Tyrant King

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.23
• Published: 2017
• Chapters: 38
• Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Drama, Fantasy
• Author: Haga
• Illustrator: Ji-young Kang

There aren’t many fantasy BL that are as well known as King’s Maker. The main character is Wolfgang Goldenleonard, the fourth prince of the kingdom who has been in hiding since his mother died. Having formed a relationship with the kingdom’s orphans, he’s determined to dethrone his father. Enter Shin Soohyuk, a young boy coveted by the king. He sees Wolfgang as an opportunity to change the kingdom.

Despite the bright colors used to portray the characters, this manhwa is quite dark. The plot centers around the planning of a coup to remove a corrupt king who abuses young boys. It’s thrilling and exciting. The relationship between Wolfgang and Soohyuk is quite slow as they both prioritize their goals, but eventually, it develops into something very wholesome.