what is a manhwa

Manhwa is a term used to refer to comics and print-cartoons in Korea, and it is directly influenced by Japanese Manga comics. However, outside Korea, the term usually refers to South Korean comics. Manhwa has its own history of development, and it was used as propaganda for war efforts and to impose a political ideology during the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910-1945) . Manhwa became popular again when South Korea launched websites that publish digital manhwa known as webtoons, such as Daum Webtoon, in 2003, and Naver Webtoon, in 2004. Then, in 2014, Naver Webtoon launched globally as LINE Webtoon. Manhwa is read in the same direction as English books, horizontally and from left to right, because Korean is normally written and read horizontally. It can also be written and read vertically from right to left, top to bottom. Webtoons tend to be structured differently in the way they are meant for scrolling where manga is meant to be looked at page by page. Manhwa art differs from manga and manhua as well with its distinct features. The bodies of characters are often realistically proportioned, while the faces remain unrealistic. Manhwas also often have very detailed clothing on their characters as well as intricate backgrounds. Webtoons use vertical scrolling to their advantage to demonstrate movement or the passage of time.