Karma And The Fictional Town Of Guhoe: What’s Real And What’s Not
Based on the webtoon Akyeon, Netflix’s Karma pulls you into a dark and gripping world. It follows six strangers whose lives crash together after a violent crime. At the center of it all? Guhoe.
A quiet little town hiding big secrets. But is Guhoe real? Or just a well-written backdrop? Let’s break it down—what’s made-up, what’s inspired by real places, and why this fictional town feels so real.
So, Is Guhoe A Real City?
Short answer? No. Guhoe doesn’t exist. But it feels like it could.
In Karma, Guhoe looks like any typical South Korean town: high schools, quiet streets, and local gossip. But it’s entirely fictional—built from scratch for the story. The city is based on Akyeon, a digital comic by Choi Hee-Sun, who layered in real cultural details like school hierarchy to make it feel authentic.
Think of it like Gotham in Batman—not real, but real enough to believe.
Why Guhoe Matters In The Story
Guhoe isn’t just scenery—it’s the glue holding the plot together.
Take Park Jae-yeong. He returns to town to visit his dad… then gets tangled up in an insurance scam. That’s just the start. Soon, a crooked criminal, a shady doctor, a witness, and a girlfriend are all connected.
Even Dr. Lee Ju-yeon, who works at Sungsim General Hospital, has ties to the town. Flashbacks, secrets, old bonds—it all happens here. Guhoe becomes more than a place. It becomes the reason everything unravels.
Guhoe May Be Fake, But It Feels Familiar
Guhoe was made up. But the vibe? Very real.
Parts of the town mirror places in Seoul. The hospital where Ju-yeon works? It shares its name with real hospitals in Cheonryangri-dong and Guro-gu. The busy streets and quiet neighborhoods hide crime.
That contrast shows up in the show and real life. It’s why the city feels like a place you’ve seen before, even if you haven’t.
This Story Comes From A Webcomic, Not Real Life
Nope, not actual crime.
Karma is based on Akyeon, a webcomic that aired 38 episodes on Kakao Webtoon. The author, Choi Hee-Sun, dives deep into guilt, fate, and morality. It racked up nearly 10 million readers. Netflix just gave it the screen treatment.
The themes hit hard, but the plot? Fictional.
Why Viewers Still Ask If Guhoe Is Real
Here’s the thing: details sell the story.
The creators gave Guhoe:
- A local high school with clear social rules
- A small-town hospital full of secrets
- Friendships that go way back
- Power struggles that never ended
All these layers build something that feels real. Like you could visit. Or grew up there. And that’s the point. The emotional truth in the show outweighs the fictional label.
What Guhoe Says About Karma—And Karma Itself
In this show, every choice matters. One murder spirals out. Everyone pays. That’s karma.
Guhoe isn’t just the setting—it’s the web holding the consequences. The town feels like a trap. Once you’re in, the past won’t let you go. Everyone’s hiding something. Everyone’s fate is tied to everyone else.
The town forces characters to face what they’ve done. And what they’ve become.
Why Fans Are Hooked
People love asking, “Is Guhoe real?” That says a lot.
It means Karma did its job. The town feels grounded, and the drama feels personal. The relationships, the rules, the revenge—it all hits close to home.
Fictional places don’t usually stick with us like this. But Guhoe? It lingers.
FAQs
Is Guhoe a real city in South Korea?
Nope. It’s entirely fictional—created for the story.
Is Netflix’s Karma based on a true story?
Not at all. It’s adapted from a webcomic called Akyeon by Choi Hee-Sun.
Does Sungsim General Hospital exist?
Yes and no. There are real hospitals with that name in Seoul, but they’re not part of the show’s storyline.
Why do people believe Guhoe is real?
Because the show captures authentic Korean culture so well, it features schools, family dynamics, and the setting.
What makes Karma stand out?
It’s an intense story, with layered characters, and how it blurs fiction and reality.
Final Words
Karma pulls you into a town that doesn’t exist—but still feels deeply familiar. Guhoe isn’t on any map but lives in the show’s emotional heart. It’s where fate, secrets, and justice collide. And maybe that’s why we’re still thinking about it long after the episode ends.
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