The Dark High School Secret Revealed in Naver Webtoon Exhuma prequel Maengjong
The mega-hit occult universe that terrified millions of theatergoers is officially expanding into the digital comic realm. The buzz surrounding Naver Webtoon Exhuma prequel Maengjong is hitting absolute fever pitch as fans of the 2024 blockbuster movie Exhuma finally get to uncover the untold backstory of Korea’s favorite shaman duo.
Naver Webtoon has officially launched the highly anticipated spinoff series titled Maengjong. Instead of continuing after the terrifying events of the movie, this strategic prequel rewinds the clock to explore the mysterious high school years of the young shamans, giving audiences a deeper look into their supernatural roots.
Shaman Teenagers and the Snake God Incident
For those who couldn’t get enough of the intense chemistry between the charismatic shaman Hwa-rim (originally played by Kim Go-eun) and her tattooed protégé Bong-gil (played by Lee Do-hyun), this series is an absolute dream come true.
The core plot of Naver Webtoon Exhuma prequel Maengjong kicks off long before they became the elite, high-earning occult experts seen on the big screen. The webtoon opens with a young Hwa-rim desperately trying to conceal her spiritual powers and live a normal student life after a traumatic encounter involving a terrifying snake god. However, fate refuses to let her hide, especially when she crosses paths with an enigmatic fellow high school student named Bong-gil.
The A-List Creative Team Behind the Magic
To ensure the webtoon matches the intense, eerie aesthetic of the original film, Naver Webtoon handed the reins to Haemuri, the incredibly talented illustrator famous for the massive hit webtoon Trapped.
Showbox, the official distributor behind the original Exhuma film—which pulled in a staggering 11.9 million moviegoers in South Korea alone—expressed immense excitement about the intellectual property (IP) crossover. They noted that shifting the franchise into a serialized format will offer both hardcore cinephiles and casual webtoon readers a fresh, deeply immersive experience.
With Naver Webtoon Exhuma prequel Maengjong officially making its grand debut, the dark corners of the Exhuma universe are finally being brought to light.
