Summary
The release ofSolo Leveling, based on one of thebest action manhwa in recent times, sparked a surge in the public’s interest and fascination with manhwa. Who wouldn’t want to indulge in something that looks like it’s drawn straight out of heaven? That’s what these South Korean-originating comic books are known for. Their exquisite art and enchanting stories keep their very loyal readers on their toes, leaving them always asking for more.
Even though the manhwa world is brimming with a myriad of different genres, most fans tend to gravitate towards genres like scaling-action or isekai-romance because, well — they’re in abundance, and despite sharing the same themes on the surface, each piece is highly unique and different from the other. Themedical genre in manhwa, on the other hand, remains particularly underrated. There are plenty of good manhwa out there that are set in the underrepresented world of health care and medicine, and some of them even incorporate action and romance.
Updated on July 04, 2025, by Fatima Naeem:The reason medical content in different media remains so popular among the masses is because of its severity, which can and should be viewed through a fictional lens. Obviously, real-life medical scenarios are critical and should only be dealt with by a professional with experience. However, combining medical themes with various tropes in fiction taps into humans' natural curiosity to explore different outcomes safely. Manhwa, with its blend of creativity and visual storytelling, offers a unique medium for readers to engage with these scenarios, providing both creative narratives and visual stimulation.
Genres
Adventure, Fantasy
The Holy Power of Modern Medicineis a great manhwa thatblends themes of reincarnation, growth, and medicine perfectly. It debuted its first chapter in 2022 and currently has 79 chapters published. The story follows Dr. Shin Yoosung, a miracle doctor in every sense of the term. He’s known for bringing back patients from the brink of death and is renowned in the medical community as the “Hand of God.”
However, despite his skills in surgery and his uncanny ability to save every patient he’s worked with, Yoosung is overworked and isolated by his fellow practitioners. One fateful day, after heroically saving yet another life, Yoosung calls it a night and starts to walk back home until he, in classic isekai manhwa fashion, gets hit by a truck and is isekaid to a fantasy world. This results in him no longer being Dr. Shin Yoosung. Instead, he becomes a little toddler named Ray who has doting parents and magical healing powers.
Drama, Supernatural
Manhwa writers sure have a penchant forincorporating reincarnation elements into their stories. Just likeThe Holy Power of Modern Medicine,Dr. Choi Giseok Levels Upis also mainly based on resurrection. It had its first chapter released in 2022 and currently has 97 chapters on the official website.
Dr. Choi Giseok Levels Upfollows a surgical resident, Dr. Jung Haejin, who, on his last day of residency, falls victim to the notorious truck-kun. Unexpectedly, Haejin finds himself waking up in the body of Choi Giseok, a recently graduated doctor who’s about to start a surgical internship. Determined not to let his second chance at life go to waste, Haejin vows to transform Giseok into the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the country. And to spice things up, he starts seeing these weird holographic screens above himself and everyone else.
Supernatural
Super Genius DNAtakes a more pharmaceutical focus rather thancentering on medical practice. Originally released in 2020, the series concluded with its final chapter released in 2023, featuring120 chapters in total.
Ryu Youngjoon hits a rough patch when he finds himself suspended from his job as a research scientist at a leading pharmaceutical company for speaking out against their unethical practices. Things take a turn for the worse when his health takes a massive hit because of all the accumulated stress. Yet, in a turn of events, Youngjoon gains superhuman intelligence and strength after he unexpectedly comes into contact with a sample of ‘artificial cells’ at his workplace (he doesn’t even have to wear his contact lenses anymore). He’s now determined to use his newfound powers to expose the corruption going on within the pharma industry.
Ecira and Hari (Story), Choi Pal-Ho(Art)
Fantasy
Veterinary medicine, despite being an essential field, often doesn’t get as much recognition as conventional medicine, and the lack of manhwa in this category reflects that. The few that do exist are very difficult to come across and are not the best representatives of their core subject. Fortunately,The Legendary Beast Animal Hospitalis a 2020 fantasy manhwa that brings the perfect blend of serious, uncanny, and fun to the medical spotlight.
It revolves around a hard-headed and strong-willed veterinary doctor, Ahyuong, whose animal clinic is about to go bankrupt. Despite her confidence, she feels powerless and begins doubting her choices. That is until she has a beautiful woman walk into her clinic, begging for help with a ‘reptile.’ It turns out that the woman herself isa 156-year-old dragonwho needs the nice doctor to help her through her reptilian problems.
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Reincarnation and medical themes often go hand in hand in the manhwa industry. While some might consider it redundant and dull, the idea of an excessively talented healthcare worker being able to stand out by helping people from a much older, medically recessive world doubles down on the hero trope.
The Apothecary Princeis a bit different in terms of the protagonist’s qualifications. Instead of a medical doctor, he’s a Korean medicine professional who uses traditional practices to help the people around him. The plot of the story revolves around himusing Korean medicine in a European fantasy world. Regardless of the global opinion around traditional medicine, it’s a very unique concept.
Romance
My Secret Roommateis the perfect manhwa for those who are looking for a medical story that focuses more on the vibes than the actual medical accuracy of the premise. It’s an enemies-to-lovers, marriage-of-convenience story that focuses onthe slow-burn romancebetween the two main characters, one of whom is a doctor.
The story revolves around Hyemin, a driven and envied neurosurgery resident, who unexpectedly finds her old-time enemy and childhood acquaintance, Sooha, as a patient. Sooha, who has narcolepsy, constantly needs professional help to manage his condition. Due to their history of animosity, Hyemin is reluctant until she finds an arrangement that could work for both of them.
Doctor Playeris an ongoing fantasy manhwa that is thankfully devoid of any reincarnation themes but does have a lot of “scaling” and action. Its first chapter was published in 2022, and it currently has 65 chapters under its belt.
Doctor Playeris set in a magical fantasy world wherehealers are the most esteemed class of people. Raymond, the King’s illegitimate child, is a mistreated individual who desperately desires to prove his worth. Unfortunately, Raymond lacks any notable healing powers and is mocked openly by his peers. Eventually, he receives an epiphany of sorts — the knowledge of “medicine” — and uses his newly acquired wisdom to climb through the ranks within his kingdom.
The Ghost Doctoris a pretty self-explanatory manhwa that came out in 2021, offering a fresh twist by shifting its narrative away from the usual reincarnation and time travel themes. Instead, it focuses on ghost helpers and supernatural beings.
The story follows Mujin, a high school student who stumbles upon a strange-looking scalpel and decides to take it with him. Soon enough, he discovers that the scalpel is tied to the spirit of Acle, an old but highly skilled doctor. With her guidance, Mujin starts displaying incredible medical talent, and before long, he’s being sought after by everyone around him for his so-called ‘prodigal’ abilities.
Perfect Surgeonis a 2022 ongoing manhwa that has 99 chapters published on its official website. Similar to other medical manhwa, this one kicks off with a deadbeat, overworked doctor second-guessing all of his choices.
Jang Hyunjun was destined for success until he wasn’t. His life as a soon-to-be doctor completely changed when his mother succumbed to a terminal illness. To shoulder her continuously mounting hospital bills, he reluctantly took up a career as a subpar dermatologist. His future looked bleak until an unexpected encounter led him to absorba self-reliant AI called Ronnie.
Drama
Trauma Center: Golden Hour’s simplicity makes it quite a normal read and is exactly what sets it apart from the other medical manhwa. It made its debut in 2019 and has since released a total of 147 chapters.
A remarkably skilled traumatologist, Dr. Baek Kanghyuk, is entrusted with the revival of a once-fallen trauma hospital, with the officials believing that he’s the only one who can revive the place to its former glory. They’re proven right, when he, with his weird antics and unwavering will to save patients, starts to make a significant change.
