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Highway 1 cover
8.5OUR SCORE
ManhwaOngoing · 32+ chR15 · our rating

Highway 1

1번국도 · 1-beongukdo · National Route 1 · Highway One

by SOMKO (adaptation); Lee Eugene (original novel) · Polarfox; Tappytoon (English) · 2025

Art: VI; Aurora Studio · Platform rating: Everyone on Tappytoon; separate Mature (18+) available on Tappytoon; Mature (19+) available on RIDI and Lezhin (Korean)

best for readers who enjoy grown-up first-love reunions, a reserved heroine, a patient and openly affectionate hero, and a warm small-town setting

Story8.1Art8.8Romance8.5
Read on Tappytoon

Also on: RIDI · RIDI (Novel)

Ch. 01 · The story

What it's about

Spoiler level: No — for the synopsis & review below

Ten years after a brief college romance, Jang Taesan and Lee Sooyeon meet again in her hometown. Taesan has arrived for construction work at a reservoir threatened by flooding, but seeing Sooyeon brings back feelings that never fully disappeared. She remains thoughtful and guarded, while he is willing to make his affection clear and give her time. Their reunion offers a chance to discover whether the attraction they remember can become a relationship that fits the adults they are now.

Ch. 02 · Our verdict

My take

It looks especially appealing if you want a reunion romance that feels warm rather than punishing. Korean reader responses repeatedly praise the artwork and the gentle emotional tone, and Taesan's steady affection gives the relationship an inviting center. My provisional take is that its strongest draw is the pleasure of watching guarded familiarity soften, rather than a premise built around constant shocks.

— coff33latt33

✓ Read it if…

The contrast between Taesan's open pursuit and Sooyeon's dry, restrained manner gives their conversations a playful rhythm. A practical reservoir project brings them back into each other's daily lives, letting the romance grow in an ordinary setting instead of relying on a glamorous meet-cute.

! Skip it if…

The affectionate, reassuring male lead is idealized, which may feel less convincing if you prefer messier characterization. This is a gentle reunion story rather than a suspense-driven romance. The Steamy edition contains explicit sexual content; the separate edited edition reduces it.

Ch. 03 · The vibe

Story profile

Story profile
From my reading notes— coff33latt33

Ten years cannot be filled in at once

Taesan and Sooyeon share a brief romance in their past, but the intervening decade contains lives they have not witnessed together. I like that practical limit on the reunion fantasy. An old spark can justify another conversation without making familiarity an accurate account of who either person has become.

Ch. 04 · Next up

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