Important takeaways
- Psychological horror manhwa delves into the darkest aspects of human nature and challenges readers.
- These manhwas explore violence, abuse, and complex human emotions in intricate plots.
- Top picks include
Dead Days, Bastard, Killing stalking,
and
Hanging doll
for scary stories.
Manhwa are celebrated for their captivating fantasy, murim and reincarnation/regression stories. But above all horror psychological horroris a rarer gem within this franchise. Psychological horror manhwa delves into the darkest recesses of the human mind, presenting stories that range from apocalyptic horror to harrowing tales of violence and abuse. These stories aren't just about scares; they explore the complexities of human nature and often leave readers thinking long after they've turned the last page.
These manhwas are filled with unique characters and created by artists whose work is both mysterious and fascinating. The stories often revolve around cycles of violence, the fragility of reason and the depths of human despair. They challenge readers to confront their own fears and question the nature of reality. The psychological tension and intricate plots make these stories stand out and offer a different kind of thrill compared to more traditional horror. Here is top ten psychological horror manhwa, ranked.
10 Dead days
The end of the world
- Release date: September 25, 2014
- Number of chapters: 12
- Status: Completed
- Author: DEY
Dead days is a post-apocalyptic survival horror manhwa set in a world overrun by zombies. The story follows a high school student named Jungkook, who sees the beginning of the apocalypse, when people who drank a freshly made drink turn into zombies.
He tries to find a way out, but the whole street is full of zombies. His only hope is another girl across the street who is in the same situation as him, forcing them both to rely on each other for a way out.
9 MIA: Lost in Operation
A soldier's worst nightmare
- Release date: 2015
- Number of chapters: 28
- Status: In progress
- Author: KIM Chang Woo, LEE Chang-jun
This psychological thriller manhwa revolves around a military operation and the psychological toll it takes on the squad.
The story follows Corporal Chan Soo Gim and his squad about to shut down a general outpost, but soon realize something is wrong. They are set by traps of all kinds and a mysterious attacker. They eventually find a bunker and think they can rest, but it seems they've made a serious mistake.
8 All of us are dead
Chaos and horror all the way
- Release date: 16 August 2021
- Number of chapters: 9
- Status: Completed
- Author: Joo Dong-geun
All of us are dead is a popular zombie apocalypse manhwa set in a high school. When a zombie outbreak occurs, students at Hyosan High find themselves trapped and fighting for survival.
When they learn that their entire school is overrun by zombies, they must find a way to fight their way through and out of the school, or die trying. The story has a lot of edge in the seat moments, but still manages to deliver a coming-of-age story in between.
7 Bastard
The bullied child hides a dark secret
- Release date: June 15, 2015
- Number of chapters: 10
- Status: Completed
- Author: Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang
Bastard is a dark psychological thriller that follows a high school student who lives with his father, who is secretly a serial killer who preys on young girls. Jin is forced to help with his father's crime, creating intense internal conflict and psychological trauma.

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The story explores abuse, violence, and the struggle to break out of a cycle of violence, a cycle that Jin soon learns that he must break out of using violence as well. This is a story filled with personal struggles, and a boy trying to push back against his psychopath of a father, and to protect the girl he cares about; a story of selfishness and selflessness intertwined.
6 Kill Stalking
A deeply disturbing story
- Release date: 2016
- Number of chapters: 76
- Status: Completed
- Author: Koogi
Kill Stalking is a controversial psychological horror manhwa that explores toxic relationships and obsession. It follows the story of Yoon Bum, who becomes entangled with Oh Sangwoo, a charismatic but deeply disturbed individual.
This manhwa delves into dark themes, including stalking, abuse, and psychological manipulation. It has quite intense, often disturbing content and interesting character dynamics.
5 Sweet home
The voice from within calls
- Release date: 15 January 2018
- Number of chapters: 14
- Status: Completed
- Author: Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang
Sweet home is a horror manhwa set in an apartment complex where people turn into monsters based on their deepest desires.
The story follows Cha Hyun-soo, a suicidal teenager, who after the death of his parents, who decides to become a recluse and stays inside all day, now has to fight for survival and his sanity, as a voice keeps telling him to give in together with others. residents.
4 The Farmer's Revenge
A dark and dirty revenge tale
- Release date: 2021
- Number of chapters: 93
- Status: In progress
- Author: Evy
This drama-filled yaoi manhwa follows Je-oh, a male prostitute struggling to survive in the slums. Living on the lowest rung of the social hierarchy, Je-oh constantly struggles to improve his circumstances but often finds himself in increasingly difficult situations. The story takes a dramatic turn when Je-oh is kidnapped by a serial killer, unexpectedly thrusting him into a wider social arena.
Seizing this opportunity, Je-oh uses his skills and talents to exact revenge on those who wronged him. This protagonist is not one to set boundaries, and is willing to go above and beyond to ensure his revenge is achieved, the complete opposite of the usual protagonist seen in these types of stories.
3 Pig farm
Mystery and horror, all in one
- Release date: November 7, 2020
- Number of chapters: 9
- Status: Completed
- Author: Kim Carnby
This story was written by Kim Carnby. The protagonist wakes up on a stunning shoreline, but the twist is that he has no idea who he is or how he got there.
As the mysterious man tries to piece together his identity, things get wilder by the moment. Each answer only leads to more questions, and the “helpful” family that takes him in isn't quite as kind as he imagined.
2 Shotgun boy
From being bullied to protecting their bullies
- Release date: March 18, 2021
- Number of chapters: 7
- Status: Completed
- Author: Carnby Kim, Hongpil
This manhwa is set in the same universe as Sweet home but works as a prequel. The manhwa follows Gyu Hwan, a victim of bullying, whose life takes a drastic turn during a terrifying ordeal in the forest. While running away from his bullies, Gyuhwan discovers a shotgun and a limited number of grenades. Limited, but enough for his classmates.
But when Gyuhwan returns to find his classmates under attack by monsters. He becomes the protector, as Gyuhwan finds himself as the only line of defense between his comrades and the ravenous creatures.
1 Hanging doll
A well-woven story, with a twist
- Release date: August 2019
- Number of chapters: 71
- Status: Completed
- Author: Team Getname
This is a dark psychological manhwa created by Team Getname, a duo that includes Kim Carnby, co-creator of Bastard. This gripping story revolves around five individuals: John, Angelina, Joan, Mike and Alfred, who dig into their memories of 1994.
The story revolves around a mysterious murder, and the fates of everyone involved, survivors or not. Despite a somewhat dated art style, Hanging doll captivates readers with its chilling atmosphere and wonderfully written characters.