OTT close-up | Kdramas are shrinking, more violent

Have you noticed? Kdramas are shrinking.

2024 Netflix original Kdrama “A Killer Paradox” had a total of eight episodes.

The streamer’s historical monster drama “Gyeongseong Creature” was 10 episodes long.

“A Shop For Killers,” which was the most viewed local original series in the Asia-Pacific for Disney+, had a total of eight episodes. “Bargain” (2022), a series released on Paramount+, had six episodes.

All were between six to 10 episodes. All are Korean dramas released on American streaming platforms.

Remember SBS hit drama “Heirs” in 2013? It had 20 episodes.

So did “Welcome To Waikiki” (2018) and popular office drama “Misaeng: Incomplete Life” (2014).

Streamers are leading the trend of shrinking Kdrama seasons, with fewer episode orders than ever.

And that’s not all.

Kdramas are getting more violent. With more adult, graphic content not suitable for younger audiences, and much darker themes. With the aggressive content spending by U.S. streamers on Korean titles post-pandemic, there have been vast, distinctive changes in Korean television dramas.

Let’s dive in.