Best Manhwa Set In The Entertainment Industry

Among the many settings explored in manhwa, the entertainment industry is a lesser-known backdrop for some engaging stories. Their plots mainly focus on well-developed characters and various intricacies of the industry. They revolve around plots revolving around different settings, from the glamor of the music scene to the intense drama of the acting world. As a result, these manhwa offer a unique blend of romance, drama, comedy, and suspense.

Moreover, readers can expect a new journey from the perspective of aspiring stars, seasoned veterans, and everyone. They will also get a glimpse into the highs and lows that often accompany fame and popularity. Some of these stories usually explore themes of ambition, rivalry, personal growth, and the overall cutthroat world of entertainment. Although the stakes may not be that high compared to other tropes, these manhwa set in the entertainment industry often portray some real-world challenges, making them entertaining and relatable.

10 Debut or Die

Well-Written Story Exploring The Great Depths of Idol Life

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.14
• Published: Aug 1, 2022
• Authors: Baek, Deoksoo (Story), Soheun (Art)

Ryu Gunwoo wakes up in a desolated motel after failing the civil service again and falling while drunk. Unfamiliar with his new appearance, he realizes he may have become the protagonist, like all those novels he knows of. He quickly shouts, “System Window,” thinking it is a huge win, and a system indeed appears. However, it has only one mission for him – either debut as an Idol or die.

Debut or Die is hugely praised by its readers for its story and colorful visual art. The manhwa does a great job of going into great detail on what it means to debut as an idol in Korea. From initial screenings to training and finding out which talent is best for a person from a production standpoint, the manhwa covers it all. Although Ryu is mainly focused on getting out of it alive, he can hone his talents with the help of the system. Many readers have also expressed their wishes for it to become a K-drama or an anime.

9 To Be an Actor

Discover How Hard Work & Passion Ultimately Transforms Into Talent

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.82
• Published: Sep 30, 2022
• Authors: Gogwang (Story), Dusi (Art)

Young-guk Jang has lived a pitiful life trying to achieve his dream of becoming an actor. Although he succeeds in winning the Best Supporting Actor Award, he finds out that his mother passed away on the same day. Unable to accept it, Young-guk ends his life full of regrets. Surprisingly, he regresses to his high school days and reunites with his beloved mother. He promises to turn a new leaf and live a life of content with her. However, fate has other plans when the world of acting beckons him once again.

Readers have praised To Be an Actor for its incredible insights into acting in general. One of its most extraordinary quirks is that Young-guk has no cheat-like system or superpowers to aid him in his second life. He also has little knowledge of events that would help him live an easier life. However, he has carried forward all his hard work and persistence from his last life to help him get a running start in acting. As a result, most people around him perceive it as his natural talent. However, readers are immediately given a glimpse into the hardships of his past life, which explains how he nurtured his talent in sincerity.

8 Muse On Fame

Great Fleshed-Out Characters Tackling Real-Life Problems

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.72
• Published: Oct 19, 2022
• Authors: Sujin (Story & Art)

Myeong is a struggling actress who spends most of her days trying to audition for minor roles but to no avail. She holds on to her dream with a burning passion but remains unseen in the entertainment industry. That is when she chanced upon a photograph of her younger self in an exhibition and saw herself in a new light. She seeks the photographer who can capture her essence in a way she never realized. As they begin to hang out, she gains a new understanding of herself and sparks soon fly between them.

Muse On Fame does a great job of realistically portraying the challenges of making it big in the entertainment industry. In addition to Myeong, all the other characters are well-fleshed out with their motivations. Plus, the artist does a great job of portraying the character’s microexpressions, which help drive the story and narrative. Even the use of colors helps bring out the story’s melancholy and the character dynamics. As a result, readers can experience the manhwa similarly to watching a drama series. Plus, none of the characters fit into existing stereotypes, which helps bring out the essence of the story.

7 Superstar from Age 0

A Mix Of Fantasy & Magic In A Modern World Setting

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.37
• Published: Apr 29, 2023
• Authors: Bukgeugom (Story), Jyanna (Art)

Seo Jun Lee has been through several incarnations as a human, devil, fairy, elf, and other living beings. With so many reincarnations and experiences he’s experienced, he creates a mind palace to store and categorize them. As a result, Seo can freely revisit any “door” to “remember” that past life once again without having to remember all of them at once. Now, he reincarnates once again in modern-day Korea. After going through his mind palace, he revisits his first life, when he dreamed of becoming an actor. Having realized this, he decides to achieve that dream in this new life.

From its synopsis, Superstar from Age 0 may seem like a mix of wildly different elements, but the author pulls it off splendidly. While focused on Seo Jun’s journey to becoming an actor, his previous reincarnations aren’t explored unless necessary. As a result, there’s hardly any break in the original plotline. Readers will also love this manhwa for its cuteness and the various abilities it explores that help the protagonist’s journey into stardom. Regarding the entertainment industry, the manhwa explores its integrity toward acting from the professional’s perspective. Many readers have also commended its beautiful artwork and the sweetness of its slice of life genre.

6 My Daughter is a Musical Genius

Heart-Warming Story Of A Dad Supporting His Daughter

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.12
• Published: Nov 30, 2021
• Authors: Lee, Hansung (Story), Harvey (Art)

Cho Sunghyun lives a tragic life after the death of his wife, which drives him to neglect his daughter, Chaeyoon. He buries himself in his work until he receives the devastating news of his daughter’s accidental death and plunges to his demise. Miraculously, he wakes up ten years ago, on his wife’s anniversary of death. He immediately rushes to meet his daughter and vows to become a better father. Eventually, he discovers that Chaeyoon is musically talented but feels conflicted about allowing her to step foot in the entertainment industry.

My Daughter is a Musical Genius is a beloved heart-warming series about a father and his daughter. Being given a second chance, Sunghyun does everything he can to become a devoted father and puts his dream and career on hold. He is talented at music, allowing him to connect with his daughter on an adorable level. Chaeyoon herself is a bright sweetheart who will melt the readers with many cute moments. He also helps pave the path for her in the entertainment industry due to his previous work background as a manager in an agency.

5 Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Great Regression Story Of Righting The Wrongs

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.77
• Published: Jul 28, 2021
• Authors: Hyeonsin (Story), Muta (Art)

Yoonho lives a supposedly successful life as the Vice President of Top Entertainment and is married to an A-list actress. However, he realizes who his true friends and supporters are when he lies on his deathbed due to a terminal illness. He starts regretting confident life choices and hopes to get a second chance at life. After that, his wish is granted, and he wakes up ten years later when he is still a rookie talent agent. On top of that, Yoonho’s smartphone downloads all the essential journal entries up to the point where he lived in the past. This time, he vows to set the entertainment industry straight by making different choices.

Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All does a great job of showcasing the inside workings of the entertainment industry from a manager’s perspective. The concept may be simple, but the author does an excellent job of portraying the politics within the industry and how Yoonho uses his knowledge to protect his circle of actors and idols. Although the protagonist shows little character development, the side characters have a certain depth, which keeps the story interesting. Plus, many ‘villains’ become a thorn in his side for petty reasons, which makes the manhwa enjoyable. It also has cute, memorable moments with his favorite actress’ adopted daughter, Miso.

4 Movies Are Real

One Of The Best Takes On Acting

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: Feb 28, 2021
• Authors: Jaemi Halgi (Story), Ah, Injam (Art)

Ki Man-sung is a minor supporting actor, and nothing else is going right for him. During a historical drama shooting, he suddenly finds that the movie set has become his new reality. He immediately runs across the fields to save himself in the middle of a war but gets caught. After a series of questions, he is executed, and he feels all the pain and emotions vividly. Suddenly, the director shouts, ‘Cut!’ and he finds himself back in his real world. After that, life presents new doors and opportunities for him as he discovers this newfound power of “living in the movie.” He goes on to try and aims to become a top actor with this gift.

Movies Are Real is a true gem among the rough that provides more than one would expect. With a unique premise set in the entertainment industry, readers are taken on a journey of a small-time actor reaching new heights. What everyone thinks to be a stroke of genius is simply Man-sung’s inability to discern movies from reality. As a result, all his facial expressions, feelings, and emotions are 100% genuine due to him experiencing a movie set as his new reality. As the story continues, he starts climbing the ranks quickly as a monster rookie and enacting several interesting movies and dramas. Fans of the series can also check out I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor, which closely follows the same premise. It is a relatively new series with less than 20 chapters but has a better fleshed-out system, helping him to experience the movie scripts in a separate reality.

3 Superstar Associate Manager

Wholesome Story With A Showbiz Backdrop

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: Dec 2, 2021
• Authors: Park, Kyungwon (Story), Lee, Jaeguk (Art)

Hoyeon Cheon is a regular associate manager of a finance company with a stagnant career. One night, he goes to karaoke with his colleagues and decides to sing a song. Out of nowhere, the spirit of a child rock star, Jihyeok Han, appears to him as if he has found his perfect vessel. With a beautiful performance, he decides that he should pursue being a superstar.

Superstar Associate Manager is a beautiful story that often gets buried under the other amassed manhwa titles. Readers are in for a roller-coaster ride with its beautiful storytelling that touches on crucial life topics by carefully wrapping it with adequate comedy. The characters are unique, and they have great depth and development. Readers will also love Hoyeon’s journey to stardom from being a nobody to a rockstar as the story progresses. They are also in for a surprise when he starts creating a band from scratch with the characters introduced right in the beginning.

2 Long Live The Drama King

Enjoyable Story Involving The Production Of Dramas

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: Sep 19, 2021
• Authors: Gobyeol (Story), Aira (Art)

After his first drama flopped, Hyunseok Lee gave up his dream of being a PD (producer director). When he meets an untimely demise, he gets to fulfill his one last wish – making the ultimate makjang drama. It is a Korean drama that goes way overboard with larger-than-life characters, dramatic plot twists, and exaggerated plots. With the assistance of a PD spirit, he gets a second shot at life to fulfill his last wish.

Long Live The Drama King is an excellent manhwa set in the entertainment industry depicting its nuances with a PD trying to create the ultimate drama. It has a unique premise with a steady pace, cute moments, and great comedy. Readers who love crazy, unpredictable protagonists will love Hyunseok’s characters and the type of stunts he pulls. Like a makjang drama, most of the story may not make sense at times, but the readers will immensely enjoy it.

1 My Uncle Is A Superstar

Beautiful Story That Sucks In Readers From The Very First Chapter

• MyAnimeList Score: Unlisted
• Published: 2019
• Authors: Won-jin HEO (Story), Nomni (Art)

Woojin has been living as a struggling carpenter after giving up his dream of singing to look after his niece and mother. One day, an artificial intelligence robot appears to him, saying it can help him realize his dreams. He takes the chance to try it, and his life starts taking a drastic turn.

My Uncle Is A Superstar is a completed manhwa with 186 chapters that discovers Woojin’s journey from his carpenter days to becoming a singer, producer, and actor. It is a tremendous, wholesome read with good comedy, cute moments, and great romance. Readers consider it one of the best manhwa set in the entertainment industry, with all the elements one would expect from this trope. All the characters have their own growth arcs that contribute to the story. Moreover, the ending wraps it up pretty nicely.