Here's my version of a (spoiler-free!) synopsis because the one on Lezhin leaves too much guesswork. Woori is about a boy and a girl who became the best of friends in high school, despite being total opposites in character. The story starts when Woojin enrols in the same university as Gayoung after serving two years in the military service. With the change in environment, amidst college mates of different values and personalities, at the age when senses are awakened to the opposite sex, the two best friends discover what they truly mean to each other, slowly but surely.
Character: 10/10
This is the aspect that makes Woori a true gem. The characters are refreshing and hilarious with their unique quirks. I'm all for storylines that are carried along by solid character portrayal and development, and this is one of the better ones out there. The MCs are multi-dimensional and equally likeable in their own ways. It's a joy to read how their clashing personalities complement and collide with each other. Not only the MCs, the side characters are interesting, each of them with their own “colour”. I’d dare say that this work won’t be as enjoyable with any one of them removed, even the most annoying ones are well portrayed to serve their purpose in the story.
Story: 9/10
A coming-of-age story at its core, the story is somewhat bittersweet as the characters deal with “growing pains” during their college years, like peer pressure, jealousy and then some. However, it doesn’t delve too deep into any of the “pain” that those plot points can potentially be sucked into. Woori is not so much a melancholic and definitely not a psychological trip, it’s consistently light throughout, even the more troubling plot points, thanks to good pacing and brilliant, ROFL-inducing humour. When I say it’s “light” though, I don’t mean to the extent that it’s shallow. The themes Woori explores are current and executed with good depth. The story being told largely from the female POV, proved relatable. In certain key parts, we also get the male POV which is a nice touch, so that we get both sides of the story. Woori also portrays friendship very well, thanks to the sound side characters, their relationships with each other and how they contribute to the main story.
Art: 8/10
Whilst I personally prefer art with more details and use of darks, the art in Woori works for the mood it aims to exude. It's is easy on the eyes, with clean lines and a largely pastel palette. When a webtoon is coloured tastefully, it’s like watching it in anime format (minus the audio plus some imagination), and Woori gave me such an impression. The characters’ facial expressions are well drawn, the chibi/ugly faces especially funny and emotions really come through (the looks of anger on the male characters, kill me). The character styling and dressing are satisfyingly on point (yay, skinnies!) which is vital in a college setting. I had to flag this because many works don’t pay enough attention to dressing; looking at you, ReLife.
Enjoyment: 9/10
TLDR; but thanks for keeping up with me! Woori is definitely not one to pass up, especially if you are a fan of any of the genres. A reminder to check out all the character side stories, they lend well-deserved spotlight to some side characters that weren’t afforded more panel time in the main storyline. Enjoy!
