Delusion (manhwa)

Delusion
Delusion webtoon cover art
현혹
RR: Hyeonhok
MR: Hyŏnhok
GenreFantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance
AuthorHongjacga
PublisherStory B
English publisherInklore
Webtoon
service
Original runSeptember 29, 2019 – November 20, 2020
Volumes3 volumes (in Korean)
2 volumes (in English)

Delusion (Korean: 현혹) is a South Korean manhwa released as a graphic novel written and illustrated by Hongjacga.[1] It was serialized via Naver Corporation's webtoon platform, Naver Webtoon, from June 2019 to November 2020. The chapters were subsequently collected and published in three volumes in July 2022. An English-language print edition is published in September 2026.

A live-action adaptation, titled Portraits of Delusion, has been announced. The series is directed by Han Jae-rim and is scheduled for release as a Disney+ original series in the second half of 2026.[2][3]

Plot

Set in Gyeongseong in 1935, the narrative centers on Song Jeong-hwa, a mysterious woman who has not ventured outside the Nammun Hotel for decades. As she commissions a new portrait every ten years, she enlists the artist Yun I-ho to capture her likeness. Through their private sessions, Yun I-ho begins to uncover the truth of her existence: Jeong-hwa is a vampire.[4]

Characters

Main

Yun I-ho
Yun I-ho (윤이호; Yun I-ho) is the primary protagonist of the series. He is an aspiring painter.
Song Jeong-hwa
Song Jeong-hwa (송정화; Song Jeong-hwa) is the main protagonist of the series. She is the proprietor of the Nammun Hotel.

Supporting

Chen Jin-ren
Chen Jin-ren is a skilled Chinese vampire hunter who becomes Song Jeong-hwa's lover and plays a pivotal role in her survival and transition to Joseon.
Bayarma
Bayarma is a cold, capable vampire hunter operating in Gyeongseong who maintains a complex, protective, and long-standing association with Song Jeong-hwa.
K (Gheorghe Balasa)
K is a centuries-old vampire from Wallachia who serves as the primary antagonist of the flashbacks and the biological father of Song Jeong-hwa.
Xiao Lun
Xiao Lun is a skilled martial artist and the devoted sidekick of Chen Jin-ren who protects a powerful silver sword to assist in the fight against corrupt hunters.
Ludmila
Ludmila is a formidable vampire hunter and the mentor of Chen Jin-ren who serves as a tactical leader until her death at the hands of Xiaolun.
Cheol-sun
Cheol-sun is a former artist who abandoned his personal life to serve as Song Jeong-hwa's butler, ultimately succumbing to despair and suicide after his dismissal.
Myeong-ja
Myeong-ja is a hotel employee and the wife of Cheol-sun who infiltrates the Nammun Hotel in a desperate attempt to find her missing husband.
Marisa Biella
Marisa Biella is a French-Italian noble whose identity and life are stolen by Song Jeong-hwa after their encounter on a ship heading to Gyeongseong.
Song Jeong-hwa's Mother
Song Jeong-hwa's mother is a former maid at K's residence who escapes her captor to raise her daughter in hiding while suffering from severe trauma.

Media

Original release

Serialization began on Naver Webtoon on September 29, 2019, for a total of 60 chapters. It rose to the top ranks of Friday webtoons within a month of its serialization beginning, thanks to its unique themes of vampires and art.[5] The preview ended on October 9, 2020, and the series concluded on November 13, 2020. On December 15, 2020, the free access period ended and it became a paid service.[6]

International release

The series has been serialized globally on the Webtoon platform under various titles and schedules. The Traditional Chinese version, titled 魅惑, began serialization on November 23, 2019. The English version, titled Delusion, launched on March 25, 2021, and is available as a Daily Pass Original, providing users access to one episode every 24 hours. The Thai translation, ปริศนามาดามซง, commenced on September 4, 2021, followed by the Spanish version, Delirio, on October 26, 2021. Most recently, the Indonesian translation of Delusion began serialization on October 21, 2024.

Printed edition

The chapters were subsequently collected and published in three volumes in July 2022.[7][8][9]

No. Korean release date Korean ISBN
1April 15, 2022[10]979-1-18-723987-1
Chapter 1 to 20
2April 15, 2022[11]979-1-18-723988-8
Chapter 21 to 40
3April 15, 2022[12]979-1-18-723989-5
Chapter 41 to 60

English publication

Inklore, an imprint of Random House, announced on July that it has acquired the global English-language print rights for the webtoon Delusion. The agreement was facilitated by Chiara Tognetti of the Chiara Tognetti Rights Agency, representing Story Company Co., with Clara Heathcock of UK and US brokering the deal. The initial volume is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026.[13]

No. English release date English ISBN
1September 01, 2026[14]979-8-21-709293-2
Chapter 1 to 20
2March 16, 2027[15]979-8-21-709293-2
Chapter 21 to 40

Reception

The series began serialization on Naver Webtoon on September 29, 2019. Driven by its unique exploration of vampire themes and art, it reached the top of the platform's Friday rankings within its first month. The webtoon recorded 2.07 million views and maintains a 9.97 rating, establishing a dedicated following.[16]

Adaptation

OTT Series

Kim Seon-ho (left), Bae Suzy (middle) and Han Jae-rim (right)

In June 2021, Showbox initially included Delusion in its announced lineup for upcoming drama production plans.[17] By September 2021, reports from film industry insiders indicated that director Han Jae-rim had begun producing a drama adaptation, though the distribution platform and filming timeline remained unconfirmed at that time.[18] The adaptation was officially confirmed as a Disney+ original series on May 23, 2025, with a scheduled release window in 2026.[19] The production budget for the series was estimated at ₩45 billion.[20] On November 13, 2025, during the Disney+ Originals Preview event at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Conference Center, the adaptation's official English title was announced as Portraits of Delusion.[21][22]

Musical adaptation

In February 2024, Library Company announced it had finalized a performance rights contract with writer Hongjacga to adapt Delusion into a musical.[23] The project was selected for a large-scale musical competition organized by the Arts Management Support Center in 2026, with a staged reading subsequently scheduled. The full production is set to premiere in 2028.[24][25]

References

  1. ↑ 정소진. "웹툰 '현혹'의 홍작가가 말하는 아름답고 기괴한 결핍". ELLE (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ Khan, Areeba (April 16, 2025). "This Vampire Thriller Webtoon Has an Upcoming K-Drama You Don't Want to Miss". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ Cho, Wonhee (July 17, 2026). "Live-Action Portraits of Delusion Series to Debut on Disney+ in 2nd Half of 2026". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ "현혹". storycompany.co.kr. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ 기자, 김형원 (December 1, 2019). "[한국 웹툰열전] ①흡혈귀와 미술 융합한 웹툰 '현혹'". IT조선 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ 성동권 (November 18, 2020). "유료화되기 전에 반드시 정주행해야 할 네이버 레전드 공포 웹툰 '현혹'". www.insight.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ 글,그림, 홍작가. 현혹 1 | 홍작가 | STORY.B(스토리비) - 예스24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ 글,그림, 홍작가. 현혹 2 | 홍작가 | STORY.B(스토리비) - 예스24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ 글,그림, 홍작가. 현혹 3 | 홍작가 | STORY.B(스토리비) - 예스24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ 현혹 1 [Delusion 1]. Naver Book Database. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ 현혹 2 [Delusion 2]. Naver Book Database. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ 현혹 3 [Delusion 3]. Naver Book Database. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Cho, Wonhee (July 17, 2026). "Inklore to Publish Print Edition of Webtoon Delusion". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Delusion, Volume 1 by Hongjacga: 9798217092925 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Delusion, Volume 2 by Hongjacga: 9798217092949 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ 라이브러리컴퍼니, 웹툰 <현혹> 뮤지컬화 [Library Company adapts webtoon Delusion into a musical]. www.themusical.co.kr (in Korean). February 14, 2024. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ Development:
  18. ↑ [단독] '관상'·'더킹' 한재림 감독, 웹툰 '현혹' 드라마로 만든다 [[Exclusive] 'Face Reader' and 'The King' director Han Jae-rim to adapt webtoon 'Delusion' into a drama"]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Daum.
  19. ↑ 수지·김선호 '현혹', 넷플릭스 아닌 디즈니+ 공개 확정 [공식] [Suzy and Kim Seon-ho's 'Hwank' Confirmed for Release on Disney+, Not Netflix [Official]]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 23, 2025. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  20. ↑ Sa, Jin (April 11, 2025). 김선호, 아이유 이어 수지 만난다…'현혹'서 5년 만 재회 [Kim Seon-ho, IU, and Suzy meet again… 'Dazzling' reunion after 5 years]. TV Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025 – via Naver.
  21. ↑ Kim, Ji-ye (November 13, 2025). "Disney+ turns to shamans, a webtoon and action with a tantalizing Korean lineup in store for next year". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on December 31, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Jo, Hyun-na (January 22, 2026). [인터뷰] 영원에 대한 욕망을 탐구하다. <현혹> 한재림 감독 [[Interview] Exploring the Desire for Eternity. Director Han Jae-rim of Delusion]. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  23. ↑ Newsis (February 16, 2024). "웹툰 '현혹' 뮤지컬로…라이브러리컴퍼니 판권계약". 뉴시스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  24. ↑ "라이브러리컴퍼니". www.librarycompany.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ Kim, Tae-hyung (May 30, 2025). 라이브러리컴퍼니, 흥행 IP 기반 대극장 뮤지컬 라인업 구축 [Library Company Builds Lineup of Large-Scale Musicals Based on Hit IPs]. Sisa Magazine (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.