WARNING: The following article contains discussion of self-harm and suicide.
As webtoons grow in popularity, so does the demand for love stories centering around famous idols. These romances typically star an average person who accidentally gets wrapped up in the world of fame and glamour after stumbling across their idol love interest. However, the road to fame isn't easy and it's accompanied by many forces trying to rip these couples apart.
Whether dealing with lifestyle differences or crazed fans, being involved with an idol is as complicated as it is exciting. Despite the ups and downs, readers flock to these love stories again and again to imagine what life would be like on the receiving end of an idol's affection. Given the trope's popularity, here are five webtoons starring idol love interests available to read right now.
True Beauty
In True Beauty, Seojun was working to become an idol in middle school until his best friend, Seyeon, commits suicide due to online bullying from fans. This causes Seojun to quit his training and give up his pursuit of fame. When the financial burden of his mother and sister increase, Seojun takes on multiple part-time jobs after high school to support them and their medical bills. He overworks himself with jobs that pay very little, which ultimately takes time away from his girlfriend Jugyeong. Initially keeping his jobs and financial struggles a secret from her out of embarrassment, Jugyeong finds out and encourages him to pursue his idol dreams again.
Seojun gets paid far more as an idol, which helps him support his family and give them the life they deserve. However, his training consumes most of his time and his work continues to make it difficult for him to spend time with Jugyeong. To make matters worse, Seojun's fans suspect they're dating and do everything they can to tear them apart. True Beauty highlights the real-life struggles involving love and relationships for idols when fans expect them to remain single. This entertaining and unpredictable idol romance has drawn millions of subscribers and inspired a popular K-drama series.
So I Married the Anti-Fan
In So I Married the Anti-Fan, Geunyeong Lee's life is ruined when she attends an event to report on a new club opening with Who Joon -- Korea's national treasure and K-pop star -- in attendance. As a small reporter at Wonder Woman Magazine, she accidentally runs into Who Joon at the event while wearing her company's expensive camera. Who Joon assumes she's a stalker taking photos of him and destroys her camera without any proof, later asking her company to sideline her while he's working with them for a photoshoot.
Despite being the hardest worker at the company and always working late, Geunyeong Lee's employer fires her without hearing her side of the story. With no job or home to call her own, she blames Who Joon and his arrogance as a celebrity for ruining her life. She sets out on a mission to destroy his life like he did hers, but this grows increasingly difficult once they get to know each other. So I Married the Anti-Fan includes an idol love interest and enemies-to-lovers trope, also inspiring a K-drama adaptation.
Death of a Pop Star
Unlike many idol romances, Death of a Pop Star features a female idol and lead named Sophie Lim. The series begins with Sophie falling down the stairs and dying after shooting her first commercial. The Grim Reaper, Elijah, arrives to reap her soul but he soon recognizes her as his favorite idol. Sophie begs him to let her live, so he offers to spare her life under the condition that she later marries him. Despite their agreement, Sophie forgets all about Eli and her death once she's resurrected, seeing him as the school janitor instead of her fiancé.
However, sparing a life that should've been reaped is completely against the rules of the underworld. Once the King of the Underworld finds out what Eli did, he orders him to return to earth and reap Sophie's soul immediately. He also orders his son, Julien, to assist Eli with collecting her soul or else he won't be allowed back in the underworld. While Eli and Julien navigate through the mess they created, they both grow closer to Sophie in her college classes. As Death of a Pop Star progresses, there's no telling which one will reap her soul -- or steal her heart.
Act Like You Love Me!
Act Like You Love Me! stars a broke 25-year-old named Ji-eon who works day and night to save up for an apartment for her and her mother to live in. Struggling to make ends meet at her convenience store job, Ji-eon encounters a penniless customer who pays her in a mysterious Mingji doll instead of cash. Angered by the defiant customer, she tosses the doll in her room and goes to a temp job as an extra at a film studio. On her first day, she runs into the famous and widely admired actor, Doyun Nam, who's rude and mistakes her for his temporary manager.
After running errands for him all day and missing her job as an extra, Ji-eon gets fired and blames him for her misfortune. She rediscovers the Mingji doll at home and claims it reminds her of Doyun Nam, so she takes out her frustrations by yelling at the poor thing. To her surprise, the doll actually controls Doyun Nam -- which makes him vulnerable to exploitation and leaves him at her mercy. Fearing its power over the celebrity, she keeps the doll safe and out of reach from others while refraining to use it herself. However, Ji-eon and Doyun Nam's fates are connected more than they initially realize as they continue to run into each other.
T0 You Who Swallowed a Star
While Jiu is in high school, she runs into the two kids who live downstairs in To You Who Swallowed a Star. Discovering that they're poor and live with their grandmother to avoid their abusive father, Jiu spends time with them to create happy memories for their childhood -- like going to movies and amusement parks. Hajun and Hayul, brother and sister, are several years younger than Jiu and look up to her as a big sister figure. As they grow closer, the kids spend most of their time in her apartment doing homework while she cooks and looks out for them. However, it isn't long until Hajun develops a secret crush on Jiu despite their age difference.
Years later, a scout encounters Hajun and wants him to join an idol survival program. Jiu is his biggest supporter and encourages him despite his initial hesitation. He ends up joining, knowing it's a great opportunity to climb out of poverty and make Jiu proud of him. While Hajun grows in popularity and fame, so does his fanbase -- who accuses him of dating after a photo of him and Jiu leaks online. Now his company will offer any deal to force Jiu and Hajun apart, but Hajun won't give up on their relationship so easily. To You Who Swallowed a Star is one romance webtoon guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
For more information on the warning signs and prevention of suicide, click here. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you live outside the U.S., click here for a list of international hotlines.
