At the corner table of a 9-5 business, outside the window upon a garden bench, and within a bus passing outside the garden—people tune into meal companion K-Dramas around midday. These bite-sized, 30-minute episodes are the perfect companion to your lunch break or dinner, offering a fresh alternative to the traditional mukbang experience. However, why are these shows suddenly everywhere, and what makes them so appealing? Let’s dig in!
What Challenges Arise When Producing K-Dramas Based On Webtoons?K-Drama StoriesMar 20, 2025
The Rise of the 30-Minute K-Drama & Why They're Winning Hearts
Korean dramas cater to audiences who are in their age of rush. Some are students, full-time professionals, and/or homemakers. They are constantly rushing from one destination to another, having just enough time to squeeze a micro-dose of entertainment during meals or transport. The 30-minute K-Dramas are ideal for this purpose. These shorter episodes are tightly paced, providing the complete long-form experience in a dosirak (lunchbox).
Kpopmap
That being said, the shift to shorter episodes isn't new, but it reflects a broader trend in content consumption. As the short-form content rises, many viewers now find 60-minute dramas too lengthy. Platforms like Netflix, Wavve, and TVING have embraced this change, producing midform dramas like “Friendly Rivalry” (2025), "Chicken Nugget" (2024), and "Work Later, Drink Now" (2021-22), each with episodes around 30 minutes long. Even terrestrial broadcasters like KBS are jumping on the bandwagon, airing 30-minute sitcoms like "Villains Everywhere."
Enjoy full access for just $1
Join over 10,000 active members!
🌟 Special Contents for Subscribers
