Story: 8/10

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” As said by Leonardo da Vinci, and I think it’s the best quote to associate with Yeonui Pyeonji. Yeonui Pyeonji doesn’t have this complex, convoluted plotline that needs multiple chapters of explanation to follow. It simply has a fun and interesting story that is easy to follow from the beginning to the end and I think that is what makes Yeonui Pyeonji unique.

The story uses the idea of written letter as a way to progress the story. Our main character, Sori Lee finds a letter and from that letter, it directs her to another letter. That goes on from the beginning of the story to the very end and the letters serve as a storytelling method which aides the story in its intricacy, flow, and pacing. Because of this, there is never a dull moment in Yeonui Pyeonji. The manhwa does an excellent job of leaving the reader wanting to know what the next letter says and how it all connects to Sori Lee which leads to the connections Sori makes and the events Sori experiences that much better. All the different themes blend together perfectly and make the story a blast to read.

Art: 6/10

The art in Yeonui Pyeonji is nothing too special. The art does a great job of showing character expressions both in face and in body. While the characters themselves and the background lack detail, the art style as a whole is really colorful. The scenic shots of forests, gardens, and the city night really shine in Yeonui Pyeonji. The colors are so well done that they put you in the right mood almost instantaneously. The bright school garden accentuates the feeling of warmth and happiness, while the dark of the night sky and the lights of buildings amplify the feeling of loneliness. It’s all brought together in clean and readable paneling. Without needing to think, the paneling leads you in the correct sequence of events. It’s due to simple yet clean paneling that the story can flow as smoothly as it does.

Characters: 7/10

Despite Yeonui Pyeonji being a short manhwa, the characters are developed and three dimensional. Each character is unique, they have their own personalities, outlooks on life, beliefs, etc. Nothing is done for the sake of the plot. Each character’s choices and decisions reflect that of their character. The relationships forged in Yeonui Pyeonji also don’t feel out of place. There is lead up and progressively forges itself throughout all the chapters. The characters in Yeonui Pyeonji feel real and its aides itself to the building of the story perfectly.

Enjoyment: 8/10

This was the first manhwa that I read, and I only read it because it was short. I didn’t expect much from a manhwa, that is why I picked a short one. Yeonui Pyeonji was supposed to be a filler for me, something for me to finish really quick to pass the time. To my pleasant surprise, this small 11-chapter manga was one of the most wholesome things I’ve read in a while. Its story and characters caught me off guard. I did not think the story was going to be that unique and I didn’t the characters would make an impact on me. It’s like finding that $5 dollar bill in your pocket, it was like going to your fridge to find a snack and you find a cake. After reading Yeonui Pyeonji it left me with this feeling of calmness and joy. It was something that left me with a big grin on my face after reading.

Verdict

I would recommend this manhwa to just about anyone out there. Yeonui Pyeonji doesn’t rely on any tropes to get by, it creates this colorful world with a great cast of characters and that’s how it keeps your attention. The story is well developed and will keep you wanting more, chapter after chapter. The colorful art establishes emotion within each setting, each panel, that makes reading that much more impactful. A great cast of characters each with their own set of complexities to make them feel all that more real. It all comes together like Voltron and the result is a story that is worth anyone’s time.