Highlights

• Manhwa geniuses are quick-witted, witty, and ahead of the game, leaving others behind with their intellect.
• The characters demonstrate strength through intelligence and quick thinking, never truly in a losing situation.
• From Kang Chan to Arthur Leywin, these exceptional intellects face any obstacle with unique talents.

Geniuses often come in different shapes and sizes, with their intellect varying from niche to niche. These characters are known for their exceptional intellect that sets them apart from other great minds; they are quick-witted, witty, and think several steps ahead of anyone else in the room, leaving everyone behind, transcending what is considered normal.

While the most common feats that manhwa readers see are those of brute strength and determination, these characters show their strength with their thinking, whether it’s winning their battles through their superhuman level of intelligence alone or using it in conjunction with their other abilities and qualities. They often create split-second advantages or use their wits to get out of a losing situation, so they never truly find themselves in a completely losing situation. This is a list of the most exceptional intellects in the world of manhwa.

5 Kang Chan

The Captain of the French Legion Incarnate

Kang Chan was a mercenary of unparalleled skill during a war in Africa; this infamy would earn him the title of "God of Blackfield" because of his dominance during this period, which made both enemies and allies fear him. After a failed attack on a terrorist group, Kang Chan was shot in the head by an unknown person, but later incarnated in the body of an 18-year-old boy of the same name.

Kang Chan was a genius on multiple levels, firstly having unparalleled combat and strategic skill that earned him his infamous title in his past life; by extension, he is a proficient martial artist, capable of defeating multiple highly trained fighters, even in a group. Lastly, Kang Chan was also able to run a company and make it a success despite having no prior knowledge of how to do so in the past. This makes him a unique talent on this list, capable of tackling any physical or intellectual obstacle in his path.

4 Han Ji-Han

A Certified Gaming Guru

Once an ordinary high school student with no dreams or aspirations, Han Ji-Han was a geek obsessed with playing video games. One day he realizes that he can treat and interact with the world around him like a video game, giving him the ability to evolve and level up, giving him unique abilities and increasing his strength and intellect.

His uniqueness stems from translating any concept he sees into video game logic, making him able to dissect and understand things no matter how complex they come his way. In terms of intelligence, Han Ji-Han is considered an extraordinary genius, with a brain on the level of a quantum computer, being able to memorize every word combination in the English language instead of regularly studying for a test. He is also extremely talented in magic and magical arts, to the point that it takes centuries of learning to be at his level. Lastly, he is a very talented martial artist, second only to supernatural martial artists.

3 Dongsoo Seon

The Sociopathic Demon

A genius for all the wrong reasons, Dongsoo Seon is the main antagonist of the manhwa “Bastard.” Portrayed as a tall, handsome, and charming man, Dongsoo uses this facade to lure unsuspecting victims and kill them while remaining completely under the radar. Dongsoo Seon is the CEO of G Corporation and is extremely successful in running it. He balances the affairs of his company’s life with his unbridled love of killing, a feat that can only be achieved by extremely talented people.

Dongsoo Seon is calculating and precise, always seeming to be one step ahead of the intelligent protagonist Jin Seon, foiling any plans he makes. He uses every possible human resource at his disposal to achieve his goals, especially his son, whom he constantly uses to lure unsuspecting victims and ultimately kill them. Dongsoo Seon is cold-blooded and intellectual, adept at reading others and changing social situations to his will, making him a genius manipulator and a fearsome hunter to be wary of.

2 Nagyuun

The Substitute Ember Knight

Nagyuun is the protagonist of the manhwa The Ember Knight. After seeing his twin brother murdered, he seeks revenge by assuming his brother's identity. The problem he faces is that he lacks the innate strength and fighting prowess that his late brother possessed, but he makes up for it with his genius intelligence and a deep aptitude for accurately reading and manipulating the expressions of himself and others to win his battles.

Nagyuun is a skilled schemer and relies heavily on his intelligence to maintain the façade of being his brother. He often uses lies, deception, and manipulation to turn battles in his favor, and even possesses a nifty ability called lethal aura, which makes him appear more imposing and dangerous, serving the purpose of keeping enemies at bay. What makes his psychological feats even more impressive is that he feels genuine emotions, but masks them accordingly to achieve his ultimate goals.

1 Arthur Leywin

The king gets a second chance

After King Grey was mysteriously murdered in his past life, he begins life anew as a boy named Arthur Leywin, the son of two adventurers. Arthur Leywin used to be a powerful king in his past life, unmatched in strength and intellect, but he lacked purpose, something he would find as he embarked on adventures in his new life.

Although considered to be at the height of his strength in his former life, he was known to be someone who was constantly seeking knowledge, as Arthur was able to recreate and modify a steam engine, altering it to accommodate new types of fuel, as well as constructing high-quality weapons and arms seemingly out of thin air. These feats of construction prowess show a deep knowledge of tools and mechanics. In addition to his intellectual feats, Arthur is something of a "battle god". He possesses a deep knowledge of military combat, as well as a strong sense of battle.