In recent years, Manhwa has become quite popular among manga readers. Manhwa is a South Korean form of manga that offers variety in the stories and characters it creates. Manhwa, however, is very different from the common manga as it is heavily focused on South Korean culture and history. The characters are inspired by the day-to-day Korean people. Most importantly, most Manhwas are adult-based and targeted at an adult audience.
Manhwas has several powerful female leads and has given the audience some of the most badass female characters of all time. Explore this article to find out about some of the top manhwa that have the finest and strongest characters in the lead.
Top 20 Manhwa with Strong Female Leads
Given below is a list of 20 best manhwa featuring some of the strongest female characters.
20. An Assassin Is Born In Mesmerizing Ghost Doctor
Release Date: 2017
Creators: Feng Jiong
The Mesmerizing Ghost Doctor follows an assassin girl with a disfigured body. The manhwa does not have any male characters showing their pecs and winning every fight. The Mesmerizing Ghost Doctor is about a woman who is on a path of vengeance.
It is a fun take on the usual revenge story. The characters are strong, wonderfully written, and powerful. It is also one of the best manhwas. While the story is very basic and follows a lot of elements from all the previous revenge mangas/manhwas, the female lead helps this one stand out.
19. Oh! Holy Twists The Typical Shy Boy-Popular Girl Love Cliché
Release Date: 16 October 2016
Creators: Ah Yun
A heartwarming love story with a horror backdrop—if that’s what you are looking for, you are in the right place. This manhwa is about a shy boy who falls in love with a popular girl, and we read as their character and relationship grow up and evolve.
The manhwa has a very bland story, but the characters stand out. While the story could have been better, the characters are epic. Jamie and Holy have a wonderful chemistry, and the audience can relate to the two and their struggles. Holly is also one of the funniest female characters in Manhwa history.
18. Girls Of The Wild’s Takes Place In An All-Girls’ Martial Arts School
Release Date: 7th August 2011
Creators: Hun & Zhena
Jaegu Song enrolls in an all-girl school known for martial arts prowess. The school is ruled by Ingui Yoon. The manhwa is about these two completely different people and their relationship, which is the driving force of the story. Ingui is a strong woman who doesn’t need help or rescue; she is the one who rescues.
While these two are the important characters, that does not undermine the other female characters in the manhwa. All of the girls we see are strong, both physically and mentally, and we get to witness their strength throughout the story. Even the male characters that appear in the manhwa help uplift the women in the story.
17. Delivery Knight Puts Its Own Spin On Death Stranding
Release Date: 2017
Creators: Lee Yung-yun
Delivery Knight takes a lot of its story from the popular video game, Death Stranding. The plot revolves around a worldwide devastation that leads to a few people taking charge of the situation and trying to unify the world.
Delivery Knight is about a world that got so polluted that it became hard for humans to even walk out of their house. The only way they could get anything was with the help of the titular heroes, led by Sawol, “The Delivery Knight.” Now, I know it doesn’t sound very exciting, but it is a fun story and a sneak peek into humanity’s future.
16. Kubera Is A Normal Girl In A World Of Magic
Release Date: 7th February 2010
Creators: Currygom
Kubera is a very slow-paced, story-based manhwa. It can test its readers’ patience once in a while. It is a very slow burn, but it helps with the character development of the characters. If you are someone who enjoys action adventures, Kubera might not be for you.
Kubera is a strong woman who is dragged into the world of gods, demons, and monsters. The manhwa is filled with magic and deep lore. Unlike most magic stories, Kubera dwells more in its lore than in action.
15. An Antagonist Lead Fights For Her Life In Survive As The Hero’s Wife
Release Date: 2018
Creators: Nokki
Canaria is reincarnated as a fictional hero’s wife, but here’s the twist: she is also the villain of the story. The story is filled with bigger twists after twists after twists in an endless cycle of twists. The story begins with her getting sent to execution, which is something she has to escape as well.
This exciting take on Isekai follows Canaria as she falls in love with her husband while trying to keep herself safe. And there is also the constant threat of her getting executed. The story shows Canaria as she tries to win her husband’s trust and change her ways.
14. Two Top Players Fight To Create A Better End In Ending Maker
Release Date: 29th May 2022
Creators: Chwiryong and Does
Imagine if Jumanji was a manhwa. Well, you don’t have to imagine it, because that’s exactly what Ending Maker is. It is about two players who get stuck in the game “Legend of Heroes: 2. Together, Cordelia and Jude have to work together in order to get out of the game world.
They realize that the only way to escape is to change the end of the game and stop the universe in “League of Heroes: 2” from destruction. Cordelia is a mage, and Jude has been turned into a martial artist. Cordelia’s character is shown with a lot of strength and physical capability, which is something very new for this genre.
13. Giselle Takes Back Her Life In The Blood Of Madam Giselle
Release Date: 20th October 2019
Creator: Lee Yun Ji
The Blood of Madam Giselle is about a woman in an abusive relationship. Despite her abusive husband, she is very loyal to him and obeys his orders. All of this changes when she comes across a handsome young man who beguiles her.
As they move forward with their relationship, Giselle soon finds out the young man is an immortal and a vampire. This love relationship with an immortal being gives her confidence and encourages her to make a stand for herself against her husband.
12. The Sound Of Magic: Annarasumanara Rejects Tradition For Magic
Release Date: 1st July 2014
Creators: Ilkwon Ha
Yoon Ah-Hee is a young girl who grew up in poverty. Despite her financial background, she has been intrigued by the world of magic and the supernatural from a very young age. Once she is old enough, she gives up on traditional schooling and sets out to find a legendary magician.
She finally finds the magician, who introduces her to the world of the supernatural and magic. The manhwa was pretty popular in South Korea. It was also adapted into a live-action movie in Korean, which just helped it become more popular among the general audience.
11. The Friendly Winter Sensitively Deals With Serious Disabilities
Release Date: 8th October 2011
Creators: Lee Jun
The Friendly Winter tells the story of a girl who is unable to grow due to her disability. Even though she is a teenager, Da-Jeong Ha has the body of a small child. During one of the winters, she comes across a boy who is seventeen by his body but has the mind of a child.
The heartwarming anime is about these two individuals with disabilities becoming friends and evolving together. The manhwa deals with a very dark and unsettling subject but uses lighthearted moments to balance the heaviness out.
10. Hayan’s Normal Life Is Destroyed By Vampires In Unholy Blood
Release Date: 25th October 2020
Creators: Lina I’m & Jeonghyeon Kim
Park Hayan is an orphan who longs for a normal life, but her life just goes in the opposite direction when the vampires appear. The league of the world’s most powerful vampires comes together to kill Park. She is left with no choice but to fight back.
Hayan and Hwang come together to fight the vampires and eradicate them from existence. As the series moves forward, the readers get to know more about Park’s past and the reasons behind the attacks. The manhwa is filled with not just vampires but also with a great action thriller and crime story.
Release Date: 2017
Creators: Ley Hey
Hana is a teacher who is cursed to turn into a dog every time she kisses a man. She kept this secret to herself until one night, when she was drunk with her crush, they ended up kissing. Sadly, for her, the guy she kissed is not exactly a dog person.
Now the only way to return to her original form is to kiss him again. But Hana isn’t sure if she wants to let him know about her curse. Unlike the title, Hana does not have a good day being a dog. This comedy was later adapted into a TV series in October 2023.
8. Gabriel Is A Girl At A Dangerous All-Boys School In Savage Garden
Release Date: 2008
Creators: Lee Hyeon-Sook
The plot is very similar to the Disney classic, Mulan. Gabriel is an orphan girl who has to try to blend into an all-boys school. The school is filled with all the rich, elitist boys, and Gabriel has to try her best to mix with them as one of them.
The manhwa is centered around nobility, drama, and romance. Savage Garden has a very beautiful art style and a gripping story. And the 18th-century British aesthetic just adds to the charm of the manhwa.
7. A Girl With A Broken Heart Is Reborn In What It Takes To Be A Villainess
Release Date: 28th May 2018
Creators: Ju, Haeon & Min
After a heartbreak, Hwayoung jumps into a river, but instead of dying, she wakes up in the body of an infamous villainess, Altisee Kaylon. Now to stay as her, Hwayoung has to lie, scheme, and do all sorts of villainy.
With lies and deception being the central themes, the manhwa also has a romance element added to it. It uses the enemy-to-lover troupe and incorporates it in the story very well. The art by Min blends in beautifully with the overall story.
6. Knight Run Is Perfect For Action-Loving Shonen Fans
Release Date: 4th May 2009
Creators: Sungmin Kim
Pray Meyer is the strongest beast slayer in the history of beast slaying. Pray is considered a threat to humanity and is extremely powerful. She will definitely remind readers of Shonen Jump heroes. Another important person in the story is Anne Meyer, who plays an important role in the overarching story and in Pray’s life.
If you are someone who wants a strong female lead, a complex storyline, action-filled sequences, and deep lore, Knight Run is tailor-made for you. It is a complex story that delves into many concepts, ranging from fantasy to adventure to sci-fi to thriller.
5. Yurim Lee Senses Other People’s Heavy Emotions In My Beautiful World
Release Date: 15th November 2013
Creators: Maru
Yurim Lee is a young woman who can identify the dark emotions in humans. She can see every individual’s darkness, evil thoughts, and depression. The manhwa starts with her keeping her distance from everyone around her. The story follows her as she makes her first friend, learns to trust people, and becomes more involved in humanity.
The manhwa shows Yurim’s journey as she tries to control her powers and use them for her advantage. The world around her tells a very complex and intricate story and talks about many topics that are rarely spoken about in anime.
4. A Servant Hides Her True Identity To Stay Alive In Light And Shadow
Release Date: 2016
Creators: Hee-Won
Edna is a servant who pretends to be a noble’s illegitimate daughter and gets married to Eli, who is a peasant crowned as a Duke. This small secret has put Edna’s life on the line, and she has to make sure Eli does not find out about her real identity as a servant.
Edna has suspicions about Eli, and while trying to protect her lie, she is constantly trying to find out his truth. The manhwa sees the two grow up and grow close. This is a very complex, multidimensional mystery thriller with a powerful female lead.
3. Raeliana Must Prevent Her Second Death In Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion
Released Date: 3rd September 2017
Creators: Milcha
Eunha is reincarnated into her favorite fictional story after her husband kills her in the real world. Sadly for her, the character she is reincarnated as is destined to die again. Now she has to stop her new fiancee from trying to kill her.
This take on Isekai and its complicated love story is very refreshing and a must read for any Isekai fans. The story of why Raeliana ended up in the Duke’s mansion? got an anime adaptation as well. So if you don’t want to read it, it’s worth a watch, that’s for sure.
2. Lena Ha Is Pulled Into Another World To Rescue It In Saver
Release Date: 2002
Creators: Lee Eun-Young
Lena is known to be a strong woman and skilled in Kumdo. In some turn of events, she is transferred to another world, and she must now become the savior of this reality and protect it. It is a refreshing take on the “Chosen One” trope and adds something very new to the subgenre.
The story is set during the Middle Ages in the Scottish homeland, which adds to the difficulties for our heroine, Lena. The manhwa is fun to read and easily accessible for anyone who wants to read it. Highly recommended!
1. Elise Redeems Herself While Avoiding A Horrible Fate In Doctor Elise
Released Date: 18th September 2017
Creator: Yuin & Mini
Due to her greed and corruption, Song Jihyun, who used to be an emperor’s wife, lost her family and her life. Now, she is reincarnated as a doctor and has sworn to save every life instead of ruining it. After being involved in a plane crash, she wakes up in her past life, but with her knowledge of medicines.
Now, Elise swears to become the greatest medic in her kingdom and redeem herself of all her past sins. In her journey, she has to find a way to stop her engagement with the emperor and spend her life with the people that need her help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all of the female characters above play a pivotal role in the story. Some of them are the protagonists of the series, and they are beautifully written. Manhwa authors are not scared of using strong, independent, and powerful female characters. Many times, manga uses its female characters for fan service and to appeal to a wider male audience. In the above article, we have provided a complete list of some of the best manhwas with the strongest female characters in action.
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FAQs on the Best Manhwa with Strong Female Characters
Q 1. Who is the strongest female character in anime?
Answer:
Kaguya is undoubtedly the strongest female character in all of the anime.
Q 2. Who is the No. 1 female character of all time?
Answer:
Sailor Moon’s Usagi is the best female character of all time.
Q 3. Who is the strongest female character in One Piece?
Answer:
Big Mom is one of the strongest characters in One Piece, which places her in the position of the strongest woman in One Piece.
Q 4. What’s the difference between Manga and Manhwa?
Answer:
Manga are comics from Japan, whereas their South Korean counterparts are called Manhwa.
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