Top 22 Sad Manhwa/Webtoons That Will Make You Cry
If you’re looking for sad, emotional and depressing manhwa recommendations, look no further.
Stories that manage to elicit emotions and tears are rare. But when we encounter them, although they bring sadness to our lives, they serve as catalysts: purging many of us from sour feelings and letting others dwell in empathy and melancholy. Regardless of your reason for seeking out a sad manhwa, this list contains tragic tearful tales and poignant yet heartwarming stories, many of which will make you cry with tears of joy or heartache.
+Manga That Will Make You Cry+
+Anime Movies That Will Make You Cry+
1.Navillera: Like a Butterfly
나빌레라
This is the story of an old man who wants to try ballet. First, finding a passion for the art form when he was younger; life got hold of him before he could even think about attending a class as it threw responsibilities his way that he had to fulfill as son, husband, and father. But after losing a close friend at the age of 70 - for old age is riddled with death- he looks back at his life and decides that with his children grown and a life spent as a factory worker, he can finally try to grasp at the thing that made his heart beat all those years ago. Going against his family and society's narrow-minded views, he enrolls at a studio. This is a rare subject in manhwas, which usually depict younger characters' lives. It is an important emotional webtoon that might change your perspective on how you value what makes you dream and brings you joy.
+Chapters: 31
+Published: 2016 to 2017
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: Hun [Story] Jimin [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Daum Webtoon
2.Amanza
아만자 - Big see
No one quite knows how to navigate Cancer, and while this sad, tragic manhwa does not claim to hold the answer, it manages to portray the physical, emotional, and mental struggles that envelop patients and their loved ones as they steer through this disease. With its simple art and sentences, Amanza states things as they are. There are no emotional cushions in this tearful story, so prepare your heart accurately.
+Chapters: 110
+Published: 2013 to 2014
+Genres: Drama - Fantasy
+Author: Kim Bo-Tong [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Ktoon
3.Utopia (Neuk Dae Sam)
유토피아
Utopia is the story of two teenagers that meet each other at a point in their lives where they are both struggling with physical and mental turmoil. Jae-Gal Neuk used to live an ordinary life before a fatal car accident took his parent’s life away. When he awoke in the hospital, he was missing a leg, his face was disfigured, and he was left with brain damage. While he could still go through the ebbs and flows of life, it was not without tremendous effort on his part. One day, on his way to school, the medication he is on makes him extremely drowsy as he crosses a traffic light. That’s when Hwang-sam meets him and manages to save his life. Unfortunately for her, Neuk uncovers her secret: she is not actually mute but refuses to speak out loud for reasons that elude him. Slowly, their story will turn into a heartbreaking romance.
+Chapters: 85
+Published: 2010 to 2012
+Genres: Drama - Psychological - Romance - School Life - Slice of Life - Tragedy
+Authors: Hwang Sang Jun&Neuk Dae Sam [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Naver
4.CHA CHA On The Bridge
다리 위 차차
Faced with a suicide rate that does not go down, a futuristic South Korean government decides to create a prevention program with the use of AI: CHA-88K, a humanoid robot, is placed on Mapo Bridge and is programmed to watch over it and provide therapy to potential victims. Cha Cha on the bridge recounts the story of that robot and a human society that seems to slowly slip into lethargy and desolation as the world continues to advance without its humane component.
+Chapters: 60
+Published: 2017 to 2018
+Genres: Drama - Sci-fi - Slice of Life -
5.Diamond Dust
다이아몬드 더스트
Diamond Dust explores one of life’s saddest occurrences: diseases. Initially, this tragic manhwa will follow the early life of Hyerin, a piano prodigy who achieved the heights of fame by training up to 12 hours a day, closely forced and followed by her strict father. As a mentally traumatic accident takes over her life, she is left unable to play, with hands as stiff as wood. Later, she will meet JooWon, a musician from an indie band dealing with his own sickness. Don’t read this sad romance webtoon if you’re looking for something lighthearted.
+Chapters: 40
+Published: 2012 to 2013
+Genres: Drama - Romance - Music - Psychological
+Authors: Kang Hyung Kyu [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Daum Webtoon
6.Second Home
두번째 집 - Dubeonjjae Jib
The lives of two neighbors separated by a thin wall begin to slowly intertwine as they find themselves navigating a similar human experience at different angles. The story is that of a quiet male student and his married neighbor. As a bond forms between them, both will undergo a coming-of-age tale, each influencing the other. The entire plot centralizes around the interactions between our two main characters, but dialogues and gestures are wrapped in a sort of hushed veil; there is no grand show of emotions or excessive drama. If you shed tears, it will be in the demeanor of the character: silently.
+Chapters: 41
+Published: 2017 to 2018
+Genres: Romance - School Life - Slice of Life
+Serialization/Other works: Daum Webtoon
7.My Kitty and Old Dog
내 어린고양이와 늙은개
My Kitty and Old Dog is a collection of short episodic stories told from the point of view of different cats and dogs - and sometimes from the artist’s own experiences with his pets. Both the art style and tales are simple, but they will manage to tug at various corners of your heart. The subjects they treat are soaked in innocence and raw emotions, and people who own pets might relate to a lot of the situations depicted through these narratives. You won’t find drama, darkness, or cynicism here. This emotional manhwa is a breath of fresh air and comfort and does not aim to accomplish much other than warm your heart and make you cry (you might need a box of tissues per chapter with that one).
+Chapters: 215
+Published: 2011 to 2013
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Slice of Life - Memoir - Pets
+Creator: Cho [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Naver Webtoon
8.The Friendly Winter
다정한 겨울
This emotional Korean webtoon is centered on two characters with rather special circumstances surrounding their growth. Da-Jeong is a 19-year-old trapped in a child's body, while Min-Seong is a 17-year-old guy with a child's mind. From the day they first meet, they complement each other very well. Against the trash of society who judge, ridicule, and take advantage of their disabilities, they begin to protect each other in various ways. Da-Jeong has quite a few devious tactics up her sleeve, taking full advantage of her innocent and cute appearance to appeal to the public's sympathies, while Min-Seong has mature stature to help along the way. In this dynamic, Da-Jeong plays the big sister role most of the time, and their misadventures around town start in a lighthearted mood.
+Chapters: 65
+Published: 2011 to 2013
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Slice of Life - Psychological
+Authors: Lee Jun [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Daum Webtoon
9.10 years that I loved you the most
最爱你的那十年
Gather ye lovers of toxicity, for this is a sad manhua whose depiction of love is so poisonous it becomes addictive. Compare this work to a B-rated melodramatic sitcom with plenty of drama and spice to keep anyone who likes venomous romance hooked. The story follows that of Zhishu and Wenxu Jiang, a couple who's been together for more than a decade and whose relationship succumbed to life's challenges and temptations. Zhishu, still in love, forgives everything his partner does, but one day, he gets diagnosed with an incurable disease which changes his whole perception of the little life he has left to live.
+Chapters: 72
+Published: 2018 to 2021
+Genres: Drama - Psychological - School Life - Tragedy
+Authors: Tofu Manhua&Wu Yi Ning Si [Story] Tofu Manhua [Art]
+Serialization/Other work: ac.qq
10.Timeless Melody
Timeless Melody is a title that wonderfully encompasses the stories that unfold in this emotional manhwa. Here, we have a tale of music that follows a broke musician trying to etch a place for himself in the rigid entertainment industry of 1960s America. But we also have a story of immigrants: of being but not belonging, racially and socially; of fleeing from a war-torn country where the remnants of wars are not physical but mental. And finally, a tale of struggle and inner conflict of those who love differently and incorrectly in the views of a rigid society.
+Chapters: 36
+Published: 2019 to 2020
+Genres: Drama - Historical - Romance - Tragedy
+Authors: Barutwt [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other works: Tapas Original
11.Kids are all right
아이들은 즐겁다
Don’t be fooled by the simple doodle art of this manhwa, for its simplicity hides depth. The story focuses on the life of a young elementary school boy in a peculiar situation: his mother spends her day at the hospital due to an illness, his father works long hours to pay the bill and only comes home to sleep, and his extended family has children of their own to worry about. While many would view this as a hardship, for him, this is the only thing he knows, and he views it as just normal life. Each chapter is devoted to a small event in his life, sometimes mundane, sometimes quite traumatic. Regardless of the type, seeing scenes unfold from a child’s perspective is incredibly poignant as it underlines the hardships and unfairness of life and the beauty that can be found in even these dark corners.
+Chapters: 55
+Published: 2014
+Genres: Drama
+Authors: HP56 [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Naver Webtoon
12.The Uncomfortable truth
불편한 진실
When you think about sad and emotional stories, your mind probably doesn’t go to disturbing thrillers (neither does mine, to be fair). Still, this dark psychological manhwa somehow manages to also be very emotional in a mentally cognitive shattering way. The very first chapter begins with Yoseob, a quiet high school student, sitting in jail for the murder of 8 civilians, each stabbed to death. As he recounts his story and the truth gets revealed, the primary emotion you will feel is anxiety and shock, but sadness and tears will follow.
+Chapters: 75
+Published: 2016 to 2018
+Genres: Drama - Mystery - School Life - Slice of Life -Tragedy
+Authors: EErun [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Lezhin Comics Webtoon
13.Your letter
연의 편지
Your Letter unfolds across panels dripped with watercolors and environments reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's works with a distinct dream-like atmosphere. This manhwa centers around a charming story of friendship throughout which different sensitive themes are explored: trauma, alienation, and the pains that come with growing up. Pick up this emotional webtoon if you feel like you need a bit of melancholy and a warm hug.
+Chapters: 11
+Published: 2018
+Genres: Adventure - Drama - Mystery - School
+Authors: Cho Hyun-ah [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Naver Webtoon
14.Please Forgive Me
Please forgive me follows the life of a girl who lost her best friend to an accident and consequently suffered through various mental ailments due to that loss. She does not know how to deal with her emotions or understand them. Living in a society where feelings are brushed aside rather than labeled, explained, and felt or death with, she resolves herself to ignore her pain completely. But as they continue to grow, her ache and sadness become so debilitating that one day she is left with only two choices, one leading to tragedy, the other to a road filled with hardship and hope.
+Chapters: 24
+Published: 2018
+Genres: Drama - Psychological
+Author:Haechopari [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Naver Series
15.Into the Depths
낮은 곳으로 - Nanohana Boys
This emotional manhwa manages to dive deeply into many of the experiences we go through as we grow up. While the initial premise and handicaps of its two main characters - one is partly blind and recovering from an accident while the other is hearing impaired - can be emotional for some, the main focus here is friendship. And it is through this friendship that readers will see their emotions stir. Disability is not used as a means to bring pity or sadness; it is taken as it is, without subtraction or addition. As for the slowly blossoming bond between the two protagonists: it is thought-provoking and incredibly meaningful in its level of care and warmth and its growth through trials and tribulations.
+Chapters: 63
+Published: 2014 to 2016
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - School Life - Slice of Life
+Author: Pyong [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Justoon
16.Duty After School
방과 후 전쟁활동
As they were going about the mundanity of daily high school life, a group of students witnessed the end of the world as they know it, brought forth by the invasion of the sky by mysterious purple orbs. First appearing harmless, the orbs soon showcased their tendency for unpredictable violence as they sporadically caused the death of millions. As the South Korean military forces soon diminished, the government imposed martial law and mandatory army enlistment for those 11 and older. The story follows a group of those enlisted students in their new lives. This manhwa is full of emotional repercussions, depth, substance, and eerie accuracy.
+Chapters: 50
+Published: 2012 to 2013
+Genres: Action - Drama - Sci-Fi - Military - Psychological - School
+Authors: Ha Il-Kwon [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Naver Webtoon
17.The Horizon
수평선
Dark and gritty art where the lines between the protagonist and his environment blur serve to depict the heavy atmosphere of this manhwa set during a ravaging war. Although war stories are nothing new, the particularity here is that the perspective is given from that of a child, juxtaposing innocence and cruelty in a hauntingly dreadful world. After the death of his mother, a boy is left to fend for himself amidst the chaos and panic of bloodshed. Fleeing, he eventually finds a companion: a girl his age hiding between lifeless bodies. The Horizon is a masterfully told story and does not hold back in addressing and depicting some of the darkest facets of the human experience.
+Chapters: 21
+Published: 2016
+Genres: Drama - Adventure - Psychological
+Authors: Jeong Ji-Hoon [Story&Art]
+Serialization/Other work: Afternoon
18.Familyman
패밀리맨
Familyman follows the story of a family whose financial struggle slowly led to an emotional one. Although Kwon Gang-Ho is able to support his wife and kids by working as a factory worker in the countryside, he spends most of his time away from them, leaving his wife to raise the children on her own. One day, struggling with exhaustion, Gang-ho’s fatigue leads to an accident, leaving his face with severe burn marks. As he is dismissed from his job, he heads back to Seoul, but his immense shame and feelings of failure forbid him from facing his family. Instead, he opts to watch over them from afar, sometimes intervening to help his kids in the form of superhero Gugu-man. Although the story is a bit whimsical, the characters exhibit very realistic emotions via the different situations they find themselves in.
+Chapters: 41
+Published: 2009 to 2010
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Jung Pil Won [Art&Story]
+Serialization/Other work: Naver Webtoon
19.Save Me
구원하소서 - Guwon Hasoseo
If you’ve read your fair share of tragic webtoons, you’re probably aware of the intense bullying that sometimes takes place in South Korean schools. While it’s a pretty popular subject to treat in manhwas, rare are the ones that manage to truly shock and turn the actions into extreme acts of violence. But Save me is such a work, as it has a high chance of making you uncomfortable - I found myself covering my mouth in sheer horror at some of the scenes. But here, you won’t find warmth or coming-of-age stories. This is a dark psychological read which centers on revenge. The plot follows Hyeongoh, a disabled student whose school bullies treat more like an entertaining animal than a human.
+Chapters: 63
+Published: 2016 to 2017
+Genres: Drama - Psychological - School
+Authors: 1230 [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Lezhin Comics Webtoon
20.CAN'T SEE CAN'T HEAR BUT LOVE
보지 못하고 듣지 못하고 사랑해 - SEE, HEAR, LOVE
If you read this tragic and heartbreaking manhwa, you will find yourself drowning in an ocean of tears (unless you’re heartless, in which case.. hey!). The misery depicted here is pretty heavy-handed, and a lot of side characters behave in extremely inhumane ways. I don’t think that the story is particularly deep or incredibly original, but it serves as a great catharsis of pain and tear ducts.
+Chapters: 83
+Published: 2010 to 2011
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Romance - Slice of Life
+Authors: Go Yeong-Hun [Story & Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Daum Webtoon
21.Seasons of Blossoms
청춘 블라썸
Seasons of Blossoms tells the intimate story of a group of friends, focusing on one character in each of its volumes. The volumes are akin to seasons, the first one treating that of summer. And so, while the story begins with wholesome warmth and romance, those that follow it are etched in ice, grief, and anguish. Readers will experience different aspects of life through the struggles, progress, achievements, and setbacks of rotating protagonists - some of which have gone through very sensitive and traumatic situations. Be warned: you might continuously cry as you scroll down the panels.
+Chapters: +100
+Published: 2020 to Ongoing
+Genres: Comedy - Drama - Romance - School Life
+Authors: Hongduck [Story] Nemone [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Naver Webtoon
22.About Death
죽음에 관하여
About Death is a manhwa that attempts to treat the subject of our departure from life. Here, there are no circles of hell or ascension to the heavens; Death brings silence which quickly gets interrupted by the discourse of a rather odd and quirky God. As characters wait for what comes next, they engage in philosophical, comical, and intriguing conversations with their creator. Each chapter is independent of the other, and various themes, such as joy, regret, and sorrow, are treated simply yet compellingly. While I don’t guarantee that this manhwa will make you cry, it consists of a fast read that might make you ponder a question or two regarding a subject many of us avoid and lace with fear and heartache.
+Chapters: 27
+Published: 2012 to 2013
+Genres: Slice of Life - Supernatural - Psychological
+Authors: Sini [Story] Hyeono [Art]
+Serialization/Other works: Naver Webtoon
