Secret societies in manhwa offer a unique narrative device. They operate behind the scenes to influence the plot in many ways. These groups add layers of mystery and complexity to a manhwa, and as a result, readers can enjoy stories filled with suspense, power struggles, and sudden twists. Eventually, it makes for an exciting manhwa and provides an immersive reading experience.

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Spanning across various genres, from romance and fantasy to action to horror, the presence of secret societies often helps build intrigue and deepen character development. Readers get a sense of anticipation as they uncover the secrets and motivations behind these elusive groups. These societies are often hell-bent on challenging the protagonists and making them experience deception, loyalty, and betrayal. It also improves the overall tension and drama of the story. These manhwa titles are guaranteed to provide a thrilling journey into the unknown.

Eleceed

Secret Society Of Awakened People In A Normal World

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.55
• Published: Oct 2, 2018
• Authors: Kim, Hye-Jin (Art), Son, Jae-Ho (Story)

Jiwoo is a young man who keeps his awakened powers a secret in normal society. He crosses paths with another Awakener, Kayden, who finds himself stuck in the body of a fat, fluffy cat. Forming an unlikely alliance, Kayden teaches Jiwoo about the secret society of awakened people and trains him to fight evil forces.

Eleceed is a great manhwa written by the author of the popular series Noblesse. Although the pacing is slow, this manhwa has excellent characters, a strong story, and a unique world setting. Readers will learn more about the secretive society in bits and pieces as the story progresses. Jiwoo has excellent character development, as Kayden helps him realize his true potential. The manhwa has impressive fight scenes and differs significantly from the familiar dungeons, hunters, and the murim tropes of the genre. Readers will also love the banter between Jiwoo and the fat fluffy cat!

Jungle Juice

Secret Society Of Insect-Human Hybrids In The Modern World

• MyAnimeListScore: 7.69
• Published: Dec 30, 2020
• Authors: Juder (Art), Hyeong Eun (Story)

Suchan Jang is an academically-gifted student who hides a rather unexpected secret. After using a spray called "Jungle Juice," he suddenly grew a pair of wings. Although Jang tries to hide hem from the world, he is forced to use his wings to save a person from a car accident. All seemed lost for him when he thought that the world would no longer accept him. Luckily, he comes across a secret society with people similar to him. However, only the law of the jungle applies to the place where predators and prey exist, and only the strong survive.

Jungle Juice is one of the most popular manhwa for its unique concept and detailed world-building. The author has put a lot of effort into defining each character's power and traits. The existence of the secret society alone brings a grand narrative of people who hide from the world's eyes to ensure their own survival. Readers may also love the protagonist for his simple, do-gooder nature, especially after getting thrown into a society of powerful humans. Readers will be thrilled to join him on his journey, trying to navigate the new landscape, find and make friends, and battle insect-human hybrid enemies.

The Genius Medicinal Mage

Secret Shadow Organization With Hunter Contractors

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.32
• Published: Feb 28, 2023
• Authors: Geulgeunyuk (Story), Choigom (Art)

The protagonist of The Genius Medicinal Mage has an excellent knack for gaming, as he conquers 'World' two times in its two released updates. But when he creates a terminally ill character for World 3.0 to maximize hisv mage's powers, he becomes that same character in the game! Starting in a poor setting, he quickly discovers a drug that allows him to harness his potential as a mage. However, it is only short-lived, as he now has to rely on it, which raises the question of whether the drug is a savior or a destroyer.

With a fresh take on the protagonist being a video-game character, The Genius Medicinal Mage promises a modern fantasy world setting. As Renoc (the weak game character), he has to find a way to continue surviving while earning money constantly. Eventually, he takes odd jobs with an underworld organization, learning more about the world in which he's stuck. Plus, he has to balance his earnings with buying the drug to continue working as a contractor until he can find a safe alternative.

Descent Of The Demon Master

Elusive Martial Arts Groups Around The World

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.70
• Published: Oct 31, 2019
• Authors: Wolbaek (Story), Mayorang (Art)

Reincarnated for the third time, Jinho Kang finds himself back in his original body before the fateful accident that occurred during his first life. He had previously spent his second life as the Demonic Master in medieval China, who met his untimely end due to a backstabbing betrayal. Although he wishes to live an everyday life this time around, life finds a way to make him regain his martial arts prowess.

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Set in the modern world, The Descent Of The Demonic Master combines various tropes with the murim concept. Jinho quickly finds out that there are other 'Returners' who wish for him to join their secretive society. He keeps trying to avoid them, but ends up crossing paths with martial artists occasionally anyway. Eventually, he bites the bullet and aims to catch up to his former self to face the unknown dangers that lurk around every corner.

I'll Be A Villain In This Life

MC Creates His Own Organization To Fight Criminal Groups

• MyAnimeList Score: Unlisted
• Published: 2022
• Authors: 글빌런 (Story & Art)

Lee Joohyuk had been an undercover cop for 15 years trying to infiltrate and bring down a corporate-style criminal organization called DG Group. Sadly, they discover his identity and send him off to the afterlife. As fate would have it, he returns to 2005 for a second chance at bringing them down. This time, he decides to become a villain working in the shadows to eliminate the criminal group from behind the scenes.

This manhwa seamlessly blends various genres with a compelling narrative, from action and martial arts to drama and fantasy. The protagonist is relatable, likable, and very smart about his actions. As he builds his own secret society, he gets in touch with characters from his past life. These characters have well-detailed backgrounds that add to the intense storyline. Plus, the artwork is fantastic, and constantly leaving readers thrilled and in suspense, making them anticipate the next chapter.

Past Life Returner

MC Paves His Way Into A Secret Financial Society & Hunter Groups

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.82
• Published: Dec 7, 2022
• Authors: Na, Minchae (Story), NFToon (Art)

Na Sunhoo desperately tries to survive in a world of dungeons and monsters, with secret groups trying to disrupt humanity's survival. Fortunately, the system offers him a second chance when he is killed in battle. When the system asks when he would like to regress to, he enters his own birthdate. This time, he works behind the scenes to earn as much money as possible to make his way into the secret societies that run the world.

Past Life Returner is a 2022 remake of Past Life Regression with better art and story progression. Although the manhwa follows the usual dungeons and monsters trope, it introduces a new concept of secret societies that govern the world's economy. Upon his regression, the protagonist uses his previous world knowledge of economic events to earn as much money as possible and gain influence. Plus, dungeons still exist, but have yet to be discovered in this new life. Readers are in for a great ride if they love MCs who use past-life knowledge to strike it rich. It is more similar to Reborn Rich, From The Grave & Back, and A Real Man for its money-making trope.

Enrolling In The Transcendent Academy

MC Has To Stop & Disrupt The Destructive Plans Of Secret Societies

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.18
• Published: Jul 7, 2022
• Authors: Dupachitapa (Story), Kkyujeanne (Art)

A hundred years have passed since the existence of dungeons and monsters, where becoming a hunter has become a full-time job. As a result, candidates have to enroll in Hunter Academies to gain theoretical and practical knowledge in order to become a hunter. Seojun Kim is a hard-working orphan who wants to become a hunter, and saves his money to enroll in an academy. Unfortunately, he instead uses up his savings on medical costs due to a work-related accident. As he runs out of hope, he comes across an ad for Transcendent Academy and signs up for the Free Pass. His life is immediately turned around.

Although the Transcendent Academy is an extraordinary secret society in another dimension, Seojun Kim fights secret societies in his world. He uses the academy to learn from famous people throughout history, strengthening as he levels up. However, his connection to the academy has drastically changed his fate. As a result, he ends up on the radar of a secret group called the Truth Society. Although unaware of their motives, he works with other prominent figures to discover their secrets before they take drastic measures.

Dungeon Odyssey

A Child Of A Secret Underground Society Becomes A Labyrinth Owner

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.60
• Published: Sep 26, 2022
• Authors: Glump (Story), Son, Minwoo (Art)

Humanity is introduced to "dungeon babies" after the great battle between the underground and surface dwellers ends. These dungeon babies possess supernatural abilities and are teamed up with human hunters to explore underground labyrinths. Jinwoo Kim is an underground dweller who gets adopted into a loving family. However, his motive for earning money forces him to explore these labyrinths, where his instincts take over. Through a series of events, he becomes the owner of a labyrinth.

With a unique twist to the dungeons and monsters trope, Dungeon Odyssey offers a compelling narrative and world-building. Between being forced to live an ordinary life and the life of a hunter, Seojun Kim is forced to oversee a labyrinth by himself. As he levels up, he unlocks new skills and leans into his underground persona. Readers will love the story for its original concept, likable characters, and the MC's growth as a great protagonist.

I Was The Final Boss

Initially A Villain, MC Joins A Secret Government Organization

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.00
• Published: Nov 23, 2022
• Authors: Lucks (Story & Art)

Baphomet is the cold, calculating, and ruthless final boss of a tower. Having climbed his way from the bottom to the top, he eventually suffers from boredom. That is, until human hunters keep challenging the tower to face him, only to meet their end. Little by little, he learns about them through their smartphones and belongings. The more he learns, the more interested he becomes in visiting the human world. Eventually, he casually prays to become a human in passing to any God who may be listening. Then, his wish comes true.

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I Was The Final Boss may share some tropes with other manhwa, but it stands out for its character and world settings. Baphomet may have become a human, but he constantly suffers from misunderstanding the idea of humanity. Even though he loses all his powers, he gets an opportunity to regain them when he has to kill a rogue hunter. A secret government organization notices his killing instincts and tries to put them to good use. New readers will be in for a surprise with its creative plot, action, and psychological take on humanity from the eyes of a villain.

I'm Really Not The Demon God's Lackey

Well-Crafted Shadow Organizations Of Governments & Hunters

• MyAnimeList Score: Unlisted
• Published: 2021
• Authors: IANRADGL

Lin Jie has long had only one true wish—to own every book in the world in his library. As his last resort, he summons a demon and gets his wish granted. He is immediately transmigrated to another world where hunters and supernatural beings from dreams exist. Although he is none the wiser, people look up to him now as a mystical being. Misunderstandings keep cropping up, and he thinks of everybody else as his dejected customers.

I'm Really Not The Demon God's Lackey is a rare manhwa with a great plot, unique concept, and memorable characters. It shares the misunderstanding trope from The Eminence In Shadow, but the protagonist is a weak, average human. Through his contract with the devil, he has to operate his library and recommend books to his customers. However, what appear to him as regular books, the devil changes into mystical books with unprecedented power. Eventually, the people around him consider it his doing and hold him in high regard. The manhwa has a great world setting with a top-notch comedy moments.

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