BL Manhwa that has great stories beyond the romance

Important takeaways

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

Boys' Love is often seen in a variety of themes and genres, ranging from classic romance to high fantasy to thriller and horror. In manhwa, many BL stories focus solely on the relationship between the main characters, which may seem obvious for a genre like this. But these character-driven stories often have very little world-building or extra detail beyond what's needed for the romance.

Not all Boys' Love manhwa are like that. Some writers and artists have done a good job of balancing an overarching plot with a well-paced romance, creating an entertaining story that's more than apt sweets, angst and misunderstandings. The extra complicated plot often strengthens the relationships between characters because of the extra context and information.

1 Traces of the sun

A hunter cannot save his friends or himself

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

Although there are many manhwa with hunters and dungeons, it is 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 minutes. Despite his amazing power, Yiseon does not appear in public because of a huge secret he keeps: he committed a taboo.

But when his secret is discovered by the strongest hunter, Sa Hyeon, he has no choice but to cooperate and join Hyeon's team to beat the hardest dungeons in the world. While this may seem like a generic hunter story, it's a fantastic dive into survivor's guilt and trauma. The romantic aspect only happens towards the end of the manhwa, which is okay, because the psychological aspect of the story is more important.

2 Angel friend

Consequences of breaking an angel wing

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
• Published: 2019 to 2021
• Chapter: 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 friend is one of the most popular. In this story, Kim Sooho has lived his whole life to be able to see ghosts, and while this made him a bit of a black sheep, it was mostly an annoying part of life. However, things get more complicated when the angel Taker appears in his life.

Due to Sooho's abnormally strong soul, he is the target of all kinds of supernatural forces. Taker is the only one who can protect him, and as they live together, their feelings for each other grow. It is an exciting story that has many cute and fluffy moments. The ending feels a bit rushed, but overall it's a good story.

3 At the end of the road

Wake up in someone else's body

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.73
• Published: 2016 to 2018
• Chapter: 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 centers on the bullying that took place before the body switch 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 difficulty of being a painter

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.69
• Published: 2015 to 2019
• Chapter: 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 chaos this manhwa causes. With enough scandals and secrets for a TV period drama, 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 rich merchant.

It's a broken story that turns into a kind of forbidden romance. Behind the illicit relationship between Ian and Raymond are plots of political intrigue and betrayal, which slowly heat up until they boil over. The story is no longer just about the two of them; it is about the prosperity of a nation.

5 Incredible charm

Accidentally cursed by the neighbor

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2020 to 2024
• Chapter: 108
• Genres/themes: Boys Love, Supernatural, Romance
• Author: Come on
• Illustrator: Come on

Sometimes a good BL manhwa doesn't even start out as a romance. IN Incredible charmCho 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 watch 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 start their relationship. Yoonjae and Beomjin go through many situations and scenarios before developing feelings for each other. It makes their romance feel much more natural and less of an act, especially in this story where both characters have such interesting backstories.

6 The Eternal Covenant

A bond transcends lifetime

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

Action driven stories also have some of the slowest slow romances. IN The Eternal Covenantthe main relationship hasn't worked out even after two seasons. The main character is Ian Gloucester, a Knight Templar of the Kingdom of Derwin. Born with innate magical abilities, he has been vilified 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 romances is that they can get very boring quickly, but The Eternal Covenant has an interesting and exciting story to tell besides the main characters meeting. Even though the romance isn't official, the plot keeps the momentum going and helps build the tension. When the romance eventually happens, it will be even better.

7 On or off

A newly started university makes its big breakthrough

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

Of the titles on this list, On or off is probably the closest thing to a traditional Romcom. This story is about Ahn Yiyoung and his friends who start their own business. When it comes time to pitch their proposal to SJ Corporation, they are disqualified by technical errors before they can actually be presented. 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 goes on inside the office. A big part of the story is watching a group of introverted students collaborating with a large company, completing projects and dealing with office politics. All the while, the romance between Yiyoung and director Kang is heating up in the background.

8 Killer Crush

A professional killer falls in love

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.02
• Published: 2021 to 2024
• Chapter: 77
• Genres/themes: Boys Love, Comedy, Adult Cast, Organized Crime
• Author: Heresemo
• Illustrator: Heresemo

Hitmen are known to be empathetic or emotional, so Joo Taeman surprises himself when he develops feelings for famous actor Kang Dahyeok. For his part, Kang Dahyeok is just trying to transform himself from prince charming to evil bad boy when he meets Taeman for the first time. This mutual interest soon turns into a relationship full of secrets and uncertainties.

As a romantic comedy, this manhwa is quite 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 of which Taeman is a part. His reputation as a killer is well known, and it paints a target on his back even as he struggles to talk to his love.

9 King's Maker

Unlikely allies overthrow a tyrant king

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

There aren't many fantasy BLs that are as famous 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. After forming a relationship with the kingdom's orphans, he is determined to depose 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 revolves around the planning of a coup to remove a corrupt king who abuses young boys. It is exciting and exciting. The relationship between Wolfgang and Soohyuk is quite slow as they both prioritize their goals, but eventually develops into something very healthy.