From Dear X to Study Group: Here are the 5 best webtoon adaptations of 2025

If you liked Dear X, you must know that 2025 turned into a strong year for webtoon adaptations, especially in the Korean drama space. This time, instead of playing it safe, several shows leaned into darker themes, sharper writing, and tighter episode counts.

These adaptations did not just copy panels from the source material, but they reworked them to fit modern TV pacing. Some succeeded more than others, and a few stood out clearly.

So, here are five 2025 webtoon-based dramas from Dear X to Study Group that got the balance right between fan service and strong storytelling.

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5 best webtoon adaptations of 2025: From Dear X to Study Group

Dear X

Dear X took a risk by leaning fully into psychological drama instead of softening its edge. The story focused on fame, control, and emotional damage, which translated well to live action.

Performances played a big role in selling the tension, especially during quieter scenes. The Dear X drama did not rush the character arcs, even when it made viewers uncomfortable. Compared to lighter webtoon adaptations, this one trusted its audience more. It stood out for its sharp tone and refusal to offer easy answers.

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Weak Hero Class 2

Weak Hero Class 2 built on the success of its earlier adaptation and raised the stakes. The show leaned harder into social pressure, loyalty, and consequences. Fight scenes felt more emotional than physical, which stayed true to the source.

The writing focused on how violence changes people, not just how it looks and unlike many sequels, this season did not rely only on shock value. It expanded the world while keeping the focus tight on its core characters just like Dear X.

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My Dearest Nemesis

This adaptation proved that webtoon romances can work without becoming predictable. The enemies-to-lovers setup felt earned instead of forced. The dialogue stayed sharp and natural, avoiding exaggerated drama.

The pacing helped, especially in letting tension build slowly, and fans of the webtoon noticed small details that showed care in adaptation. It worked well because it trusted character interaction more than plot twists.

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The First Night with the Duke

This historical fantasy adaptation leaned into charm rather than scale and simplified parts of the webtoon without losing its appeal. In this show, the humor translated well, especially through timing and expression.

Meanwhile, romantic tension stayed light but consistent throughout the series. Also, the production design supported the story instead of overpowering it. It proved that not every adaptation needs to be dark to succeed, unlike Dear X.

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Study Group

Study Group arrived with high expectations, and it mostly delivered. The drama kept the core idea intact: a student who wants to study but keeps getting pulled into fights. What worked best was how the show balanced action with character growth, like in Dear X.

The fight scenes felt grounded instead of flashy, which matched the tone of the webtoon. The school setting stayed familiar, but the emotional stakes felt heavier on screen.

The shorter episode run helped maintain momentum without dragging subplots, and fans appreciated that the adaptation respected the webtoon’s themes of discipline, pressure, and quiet ambition.

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Why these adaptations worked in 2025

All five shows understood the limits of live-action storytelling, and none tried to recreate every panel from the webtoon. Each focused on tone, pacing, and character clarity. Shorter episode counts helped avoid filler arcs.

But, most importantly, these dramas respected both new viewers and longtime webtoon readers.