An independent main character, college, romance, friendship, twisted romantic interest, some drama, college strugles. Its also funny.Thats what you're gonna get if you read this. And I hope you do.
The story is not just about Sul, but develop those characters that are aroud her. Luckily, the ing characters are so likeable (Eun Taek is pretty interesting). Also, and to me is a very strong point, you could relate to some situacions and thoughts.
At first, I didint get why its high rating. It took me a while to star liking it. Sul seemed like a total paranoid, but as the story progress I realise that I couldnt like her more. Independent, hardworking, react in a very realistic way.

And as Disperse commented, characters are not entirely good or bad. Everyone has their reasons, their points of view.

I love the the characters! You have the main character who is kind and likeable, but not stupid or a constant damsel in distress. And the rest of the characters are surrounded by an ambiguity that keeps you guessing. Don't know what's going to happen, but i'll love to find out.

This webtoon emits an interesting atmosphere. I think it's a combination of the plot line itself as well as the color palette the artist sticks to. I just love Sul's outfits... they are to die for... Ha I'm like that girl who stole her style. The male lead is actually what captivates me. Beautiful, mysterious, slightly sociopathic, we have yet to see his true form.

I will come clear - I don't have a clue why so many people like it so much. The first season was plain boring for me. I dropped it after 10 chapters than after seeing how popular it is I started it again and again dropped it. It seems like the third time is the charm because now I actually am up to date with the most recent releases.
So my opinion after reading the whole thing is that it really is messed up. The pacing is a killer. Until something interesting happens it's like recycling the whole melodrama good-bad guy all over again. Characters are surprisingly simple but I came to like them. The main trio is gold! I like their interactions and that is the thing keeping me on board. Drawing style is a bit weird but I got used to it.
So aside from the horrible pacing it is quite good but still not deserving so much attention. I like male yanderes as well but by themselves they are not enough.

The idea behind Cheese in the Trap (CitT) certainly isn’t new, but it’s fascinating – it’s a puzzle about people. People and relationships. What’s inside of them? Are they or their words/actions/intentions good or bad, true or false? Is the main guy genuine/innocent or a puppet master pulling the strings behind the scenes? How do we relate to/perceive/understand one another? But…but…but… The execution of that idea is harder to pull off on paper (or whatever). At least at first, CitT is all mysterious and the main gal seems perceptive and smart, which is lovely. But later, CitT just becomes childish/immature with middle school-ish issues and drama. And even worse, it becomes repetitive and boring.

For (spoiler-ish?) example:

Main girl: Oh no – hll no – that btch wore the same style of clothes as me. (Nevermind that the main girl’s style of clothes is commonly worn at school, irl – pants and a shirt. Yeah, you read that right, pants and a shirt.) Ttch. This is my story dmn it, not hers. Kill the btch! (Rolling my eyes! Who cares what she wears! Can’t you, the main character, just be glad she at least wears clothes!!)

Or. Hey, the b*tch has a key chain that looks like the one I lost. It must be mine! So ask repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly about it. Don’t accept her excuse that she bought it from the same store. Just keep asking about it/obsessing over it. (Really! Really!! … It’s a key chain! You’ve already asked about it, now just move on. Please! Why obsess over it? Life is bigger than a key chain!!!)

Or. All villains please obsess over main character. If not main character, then main character’s friend. And : be obsessive in the same sort of way. Add nothing new to the story. Don’t you dare be unique or interesting.

I mean, it just goes on. And because it’s so repetitive with the same old-same old with nothing else that’s fresh or interesting, I just can’t take any more of this. I mean, had the author at least used these childish episodes to exemplify the post-trauma/damage

stalking can cause to a person’s psyche, then, ok, whatever, I could perhaps begrudgingly accept it (grumble, grumble). But the author didn’t go there (so far at least). The main character really is this immature. The story really is this boring. So, I’m out. No more traps for me.

At first I wasn't sure where this manga (technically Korean webtoon) was going, because it is not written like your average manga at all. The setting was a normal college, but the atmosphere was strangely tense.

Jung was a baffling character, he seems to fit the "perfect handsome rich" trope that you see a lot in shoujo mangas, but something about him seems off. It turns out, he is a trope subverter. I don't want to spoil too much,

but I feel like he has sociopathic tendencies. This has to do with his very manipulative nature and his difficulties with empathy.

He's one of the most realistic yet uncommon male love interests I've seen in a while. He gives me mixed feelings, as in I'm not sure I wholly him, or trust him with Sul. And yet I cannot hate him.

Sul is a GREAT heroine. She's a bit insecure, rather discreet, but smart and will stand up for herself when pushed too far. I relate to her a lot, because I've always been very sensitive to other people's actions and notice "hidden faces", which a lot of this story revolves around. The author is probably like this too, because she writes it extremely well.

The execution is amazing. The author takes common settings and character types and turns it into something I've never seen done before.
The way she adds subtleties to a character's actions.
The realism of how she portrays human nature.
People aren't purely good, or someone isn't purely the one to blame.
She'll make realistic side characters that you swore you've met before in your own life.

Basically this is a very well written portrayal of a lot of social dynamics and facades that everyday people put up. Also the struggle of a slightly awkward college student in poor financial standing. Read this if you like that sort of stuff. This manga is definitely worth a try.

Being an avid manhwa, manga, and now webtoon reader you come across a variety of female leads, and I applaud the way the artist made this one. Sul is a regular girl insecure, b*itchy, nice (sometimes), and a hard worker. She's in college trying to figure out her life; however theres just countless obstacles in her way and love (can't forget the love). At first I put this off because I assumed she would be needy and whiney but she isn't, 95% of the time. Despite all the bullcrap in her life Sul tries to keep working hard to be number one.

I enjoy reading this series not only because of Sul but the characters around her; and the real life situations they go through. Granted most to all the situations are dramatic (the artist points this out herself) but you can probably relate on a certain level. Whether it be unrequited love, rude people, jealously, insecurities, family issues, etc. We all go through it and that's what keeps making me turn the pages. It's like a young adult melodrama online! I recommend this!!!

Because our main character is a very attentive and sensitive girl, she is vulnerable to misunderstandings, snide comments, and daily social interactions. I'm kind of like that. I get easily put down some times because of little things, and it's refreshing for me to see a girl like me in a manga deal with these matters realistically.

Other shoujo characters always have some guy or plot device to help them, and they usually have unrealistic reactions...but not here. The characters in this story are all like real PEOPLE... I have been through the SAME situations, and my reactions are so eerily similar to theirs that part of me wants to believe that the author wrote this for people like me.

All in all, there is a genius behind this series. Kudos to the author. 🙂

One of the rare webtoons (and mangas in general) that I would give a 10 out of 10 to!

It initially didn't engage me and I only gave it a go a few years later after having ran out of other manga to read. And oh boy, did I realise the initial mistake I had made in ing it over!

The reason why I found it so interesting was because the author had executed a few scenes in the webtoon which I thought illustrated the human condition really well. Especially the idea of manipulation to get what you want. Jung is an interesting character too - you'll see a lot of forums made online by fans questioning his way of thought (i.e., Is he a sociopath? A psychopath? What has made him become an individual with such dualism in thought and action?). Its so fun watching people trying to guess his next movement because he is such an unpredictable character. At first you think he is simply another archetype - perfect wealthy and handsome student at the centre of everyone's attention. All that is just a farce, which you discover through flashbacks from Sul (main character) and other minor characters who are exposed to his true self.

The college life setting is quite realistic too! I found the frustration the protagonist faced was the same that I felt on a few occasions so it was quite easy to actually relate to Sul. Not to mention, the way she deals with each difficult circumstance she encounters makes her an irable character. She doesn't brush aside a situation if she feels like a person has wronged her. She speaks her mind, isn't afraid to confront and she tries to find the best solution to each problem she faces.

Anyway, I believe everyone should at least try to give it a shot (I know, the drawings are at first abit off-putting but you grow really attach to it and the author's unique style allows her to express her characters better).

I can't wait to see how the author will finish this webtoon!

So y'know how there are all these school life manga, but they're all set in high school? Well, Cheese in the Trap is set in college, and it's miraculously not boring at all. Sul is a hard-working girl with a normal social life and good grades. She is terrified of the nice, popular upperclassman, Jung, after her disconcerting experiences around him a year ago. Now, however, he is inexplicably nice to Sul, and she has no idea how to take it.

Plot: 4/5. Soon Ki's characters are pleasantly and intriguingly realistic. Sul has good intuition and common sense, navigating social situations and avoiding the cliches and traps that usual clumsy and naive protagonists often run straight into. The diverse cast of characters prove that avoiding conflict entirely is impossible, and Sul's character develops as she gains experience both from friends and from enemies. Jung is a constant enigma throughout the series. He is well-known and well-liked by the students in his major, considered perpetually kind and mature; at many points, the readers and even Sul herself question whether her suspicions are well-placed or simply paranoia. The plot follows Sul as she navigates through her college life; struggling with scholarships, group projects, upset friends, family finances, self-absorbed classmates, and, of course, staying as far away from Jung as possible.

Storytelling: 5/5. Cheese in the Trap is largely morally ambiguous, focusing more on characters individuality than on right and wrong. Both the positive and negative effects of all actions are shown, allowing for more natural character interactions and development. Sul, for example, lives a upright life of working hard and being nice to others, but ends up miserable many times because of it. After sharp downfalls and brusque advice, her character takes a slightly more ruthless turn, and she begins standing up for herself regardless of the consequences. The characters give an impression of being more like "people" than like "actors", and control the plot much more so than the plot controls them. The mystery in Cheese in the Trap is also well-written, allowing for a very interactive reading experience. Clues are dropped at a steady pace, and those with keen eyes are able to gain early insights into the developing plot.

Art: 4/5. Soon Ki makes good use of various designs to benefit her storytelling; bright colors against a white background let the readers know that the story is taking place in present time, while desaturated colors or grayscale against a black background indicate a flashback. The expressions are also an excellent part of Cheese in the Trap. Rather than reuse the same expressions over and over, Soon Ki gives her characters unique reactions to unique situations. Since the main focus of Cheese in the Trap is the characters, such fluid expressions helps to bring out their full potential.

Soon Ki's storytelling is what brings life to what would normally be, on the surface, just another slice of life story. The characters turn into people you know, both good and bad. Due to its realism, it even acts partly as a how-to for keeping good friends, getting rid of idiots and enemies, and living an honest yet assertive life. The mystery aspect is engaging as well, providing good mental exercise and leaving you eager to learn more about the characters and what happened in their pasts. This is far from a boring story, and curiosity will make you turn to the next chapter over and over. It really is just too good to up.