Summary
What makes a good teacher? Many protagonists need to be taught by someone before they canbecome the hero of their story, but that doesn’t mean all these teachers are good. A good teacher will put in just as much effort as their student, and together, they should both continuously grow.
In manhwa, especially in recent years, characters are often more focused on private growth and training, raising their strength in secret, so they don’t necessarily have teachers. However, that doesn’t mean mentor characters cease to exist; they’re just not as common. It’s also possible they are the main characters themselves.
Updated July 20, 2025 by Garrett Huon:Many of the teachers on this list are the main characters of their story, so this update will include a couple of teachers who played a more supportive role to the protagonist. These characters are important because they encourage the protagonist and help the story continue.
40
MyAnimeList Score
N/A
Living in the slums was difficult for everyone, but it was even worse for children. Despite having nothing for himself, Mr. Kim put his all into raising and caring for all the students living in the elementary school. They were family to him. However, his moderately peaceful life is disrupted when an unknown organization kidnaps the children.
Mr. Kim is taken over by the vengeful spirit of the “Red Man,” filled with fury and aggression. He becomes dead set on saving his kids, and he doesn’t care by what means he does it. There aren’t many teachers who would kill for their students.
83
7.68
Mr. Kwon is a gang boss on the run. After running into trouble within the mafia, he needed a place to lie low. Luckily, a teaching position in a remote village in the countryside opened up. Despite all this, Mr. Kwon looks like an average middle-aged man. The most intimidating thing about him is his stoicism.
While thestory takes place at school, much of the conflict occurs outside of it in the children’s homes. Despite being a total stranger in the village, Mr. Kwon helps with the domestic problems his students face, providing support in some cases and being a parental figure in others.
8.47
Unlike most teachers, Cheong Myeong isn’t much older than the people he teaches. After being reincarnated and seeing the poor state of the Mount Hua Sect, he takes it upon himself to train all the disciples. He’s by no means the kindest teacher, but his dedication to the sect and its people is unrivaled.
Despite being extremely petty and kind of insensitive, Cheong Myeong always guides his disciples down the right path. He cares deeply for them even if doesn’t show it, and in return, they have complete trust in his capabilities as a martial artist and teacher.
7.53
Despite not being a formal teacher, Desir has proven on multiple occasions that he’s able to teach magic concepts and put them into practice. Desir was alreadyknown for being a geniusat magical analysis, studying the structures and equations that produce magic, but with information from the future, he was able to introduce technology that would be established later.
Desir taught his entire party how to improve their magic skills. The core members of the Starling party all increased their abilities under his tutelage, and when the party grew, Desir personally trained the recruits. He’s also intelligent enough to research and study with the master of the Magic Tower, Zod Exarion.
7.41
A bad school environment can be bad for both students and teachers, so when Lee Hankyung started working at Yusong Vocational Engineering High, she made it her goal to make the school a better place. She prioritizes the students' safety when things get dangerous, and eventually, she even flees the country.
One important thing teachers do is inspire. With Lee Hankyung, the protagonist, Yoon Gamin, would never have created the study group in the first place. Even when his parents didn’t believe in his abilities, she encouraged him and helped him believe in himself.
7.61
Technically, Na Hwajin works for the government, but anyone can teach a lesson. Hwajin’s job is to go to dysfunctional schools and reeducate those who disrupt the learning environment. Thiscan be a school bully, a teacher abusing authority, or a parent trying to feel superior.
Usually, a nonviolent solution is preferred, but Na Hwajin is first and foremost a soldier. His style of teaching is incredibly physical, leaving a lasting impression on those he’s taught a lesson. However, he is compassionate and will do anything to make sure a victim is safe.
While Ji Jun is a leader in NEST, his primary job is as a professor. Specifically, he teaches practical combat for insect humans, so they can learn to protect themselves, which becomes more and more necessary as the Pet Shop becomes more dangerous. His priority is always his students' safety, and he even sacrifices himself to protect them.
One of the most important things he does as a teacher is trust his students. Jang Suchang’s conflict with his complex could have been the end of the story had Ji Jun refused to believe in him. When he was incapacitated, Suchang was falsely accused of murder and imprisoned.
258
7.93
Sherlock Holmes is not just a popular character, but also a popular character archetype. These tend to be incredibly intelligent people in aspecific field of study, but in return, they have poor social skills. Dr. Frost is like that, an expert in psychology but unable to empathize with others.
Under his tutelage is Yoon Seong-Ah, a junior college student who is passionate about psychology and counseling. Though they start at odds, she comes to appreciate his knowledge and his dedication to solving certain cases. He’s an expert and has plenty to teach.
7.43
Baek Suryong is a young martial arts teacher from the countryside, buthe’s also the reincarnationof someone who learned from the four greatest masters in the world. He later becomes an instructor at Azure Dragon Academy to earn money. Despite his self-serving motivations, he’s still a responsible and morally upright teacher.
He prioritizes being a good teacher to his students over anything else. Using his great observation skills, he’s able to deduce a person’s past and fighting style, so he can guide his students toward the path most suited to them.
8.42
Before the start of the story, Kayden made his name known by challenging the world’s strongest awakened fighters and never backing down from a challenge. While anyone can challenge anyone else, Kayden has seldom lost a fight. Without any formal training, Kayden is a genius among geniuses.
Kayden is responsible for teaching Seo Jiwoo about being an awakened. From terminology to social etiquette, he helps Jiwoo understand that the world is much harsher than he believes and doesn’t hesitate to protect his young student when things get dicey. Their relationship is one of the best in manhwa.
