Cheese in the Trap is a popular South Korean webtoon series written by Soonkki. The webtoon was first published online in 2010 on Naver Webtoon and quickly gained popularity, leading to a TV drama and film adaptation. But what is the original webtoon that the Cheese in the Trap series is based on?
The Original Webtoon
Cheese in the Trap is based on the original webtoon of the same name by Soonkki. The webtoon was first published on Naver Webtoon in 2010 and ran until 2016, comprising a total of 241 chapters. Some key details:
- The original Korean title is “치즈 인 더 트랩.”
- It belongs in the drama, romance, school life genres.
- The webtoon tells the story of Hong Seol, a hard-working college student, and her complex relationship with her senior Yoo Jung.
- Soonkki is the pen name of the author. Her real name is Kim Go-eun.
- The webtoon was one of the first major hits on Naver Webtoon and what catapulted the author to fame.
The original webtoon is still available to read in Korean on Naver Webtoon. Soonkki’s distinctive art style and suspenseful, romantic storyline attracted millions of readers in Korea and internationally when it first debuted.
Key Plot of the Original Webtoon
Here’s a quick rundown of the key plot in the original Cheese in the Trap webtoon:
- Hong Seol is a hard-working college student struggling to pay her tuition.
- She meets her senior Yoo Jung who seems perfect on the outside but hides a darker side.
- Yoo Jung shows unexpected kindness to Hong Seol that masks his ulterior motives.
- As Hong Seol and Yoo Jung get closer, the dark schemes Yoo Jung has set in motion start to unfold.
- Hong Seol finds herself caught in a “trap” as she discovers Yoo Jung’s true narcissistic and manipulative personality.
- The complex cat-and-mouse dynamic continues as Hong Seol tries to break free from Yoo Jung’s psychological grip.
The webtoon delivers an addictive blend of romance, drama, psychological tension and dangerous manipulation. Readers found themselves hooked on the regular twists and turns as more about the leads’ pasts and motivations were revealed.
Response to the Original Webtoon
The Cheese in the Trap webtoon became a surprise digital hit, attracting millions of devoted readers and glowing reviews. Here are some key facts about its popularity:
- It recorded over 1 billion cumulative views by its finale in 2016.
- It was one of the first major successes on Naver Webtoon and secured Soonkki’s reputation.
- Fans praised the tense psychological romance and unpredictable plot.
- Readers sympathized with Hong Seol’s struggles against the manipulative Yoo Jung.
- The webtoon generated debate about whether Yoo Jung was a villain or just misunderstood.
- It inspired massive online discussion forums and fan communities.
Cheese in the Trap gained both commercial success and critical acclaim in its original run. Its addictive storyline and complex characters earned a passionate fandom that propelled the series to fame.
Adaptations of the Webtoon
Given the popularity of the original webtoon, it’s no surprise Cheese in the Trap was adapted into other media. Here are the major adaptations:
TV Drama
- A South Korean TV drama adaptation aired in 2016 on tvN.
- It starred Kim Go-eun as Hong Seol and Park Hae-jin as Yoo Jung.
- The drama covers approximately the first 80 chapters of the webtoon.
- It received solid ratings in Korea and fans globally via streaming.
- Reviews praised the leads’ chemistry but criticized divergences from the original plot.
Movie
- A film sequel titled Cheese in the Trap: The Movie was released in 2018.
- It picks up after the drama’s storyline and has an original plot.
- The movie focuses on Yoo Jung’s perspective more than the drama.
- Reviews were fairly negative, citing lack of continuity and development.
- The movie was not a big hit, earning only $200k at the box office.
While the TV adaptation was moderately successful, the movie sequel got a cooler reception from fans who hungered for more faithfulness to the original webtoon.
Reasons for the Webtoon’s Popularity
What factors contributed to the incredible popularity of Cheese in the Trap as a webtoon? Here are some of the main reasons it resonated so strongly:
- Relatable characters – Readers loved the everygirl appeal of Hong Seol and sympathized with her struggles.
- Complex romance – The push-and-pull between Hong Seol and Yoo Jung was utterly addictive.
- Unpredictable plot – The constantly shifting story kept readers hooked and guessing.
- Social commentary – It offered insightful commentary on society’s failings and manipulation.
- Topical themes – Themes like school life and psychological trauma connected with millennials.
- Stylish artwork – Soonkki’s minimalist yet emotionally evocative art style stood out.
With its fresh take on the psychological romance genre and relatable, gripping storytelling, Cheese in the Trap carved out a niche that fans couldn’t get enough of.
Conclusion
Cheese in the Trap stands out as a trailblazing Korean webtoon that paved the way for the massive global popularity of webtoons today. The original webtoon provided the foundation with its addictively suspenseful plot, complicated lead characters, stylish artwork, and resonant themes. It amassed millions of passionate fans through its run from 2010 to 2016.
While the TV and film adaptations brought the story to new audiences, they failed to fully capture the magic of the source material. For many fans, Soonkki’s original webtoon remains the definitive version of the dark, twisting psychological romance between Hong Seol and Yoo Jung. Its huge popularity and acclaim demonstrated the storytelling potential of webtoons long before they entered the mainstream.