It doesn’t take days to finish this drama!
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| Weak Hero Class scene (doc. wavve/Weak Hero Class) |
Korean dramas are increasingly diverse in genre and format. If it used to be known for its long duration, recently there have been many Korean dramas that are less than 12 episodes!
Although short, these dramas still present the quality of the story to the acting of the extraordinary cast. Even some Korean dramas that are less than 12 episodes have won awards, you know!
Let’s take a look at 30 Korean drama titles that are less than 12 episodes recommended by popsiantimes.com below!
1. Weak Hero Class (2022)
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| Park Ji Hoon, Choi Hyun Wook and Hong Kyung (https://www.instagram.com/weakhero1/?hl=id) |
Weak Hero Class is based on a webtoon by SeoPass. The story is about Yeon Shi Eun, a smart student in the class who seems quiet everyday. One day, Shi Eun went berserk and beat up the bully in her class. Behind the figure of a model student, there is her ferocity as a fighter.
This uniqueness attracts the boxing champion Ahn Soo Hoo and the coward Oh Beom Sook to befriend him. However, the trio’s relationship slowly creates new disasters. This kdrama starring Park Ji Hoon, Choi Hyun Wook, and Hong Kyung consists of only 8 episodes.
2. Love to Hate You (2023)
This 12-episode drama follows the relationship between Yeo Mi Ran, a beautiful lawyer, and Nam Kang Ho, a successful actor. Despite their brilliant careers, they both suck at romance. From there the two agreed to use the guise of a pretend relationship.
Although the premise seems cliché, Love to Hate You is successfully packed with fun and slick in just 10 episodes. This kdrama further catapulted the prestige of Yoo Teo and Kim Ok Bin!
3. Bloodhounds (2023)
This drama is adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Jeong Chan. Bloodhounds tells the story of Kim Geon Woo and Hong Woo Jin, two former soldiers who became fighters and eventually became friends.
As time goes by, problem after problem arises that gets bigger and makes Kim Geon Woo and Hong Woo Jin have to fight to defend what is important to them. Not quite 12 episodes, the story of the two is exciting in just 8 episodes!
4. The Glory (2022)
This kdrama managed to become the talk of the town and won a number of awards in 2023. The Glory does consist of two parts, but each only has 8 episodes that are easy to follow until the end.
Moon Dong Eun returns to the city where she was born and raised to become a teacher. However, behind that, she has spent years devising a complicated scenario to avenge all those who destroyed her life and honor during high school.
5. Mask Girl (2023)
This sensational Korean drama is based on the webtoon of the same name by Maemi and Hee See. Kim Mo Mi since childhood has ambitions to become an idol. Unfortunately, although her body is ideal, her face does not support it.
As an adult, she lives a double life as a raunchy streamer known as Mask Girl. However, one terrible incident after another began to hit Mo Mi’s life like a snowball. This drakor starring Nana After School to Go Hyun Jung only has 7 episodes!
6. Death’s Game (2023)
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| footage of Seo In Guk in the drakor Death’s Game (doc. TVING/이재, 곧 죽습니다) |
Death’s Game is adapted from a webtoon by Lee Won Sik and Gul-chan. The episode has only aired 4 and will be continued in the second part later. Choi Yi Jae’s life seems to be falling apart after breaking up with his girlfriend, getting caught in bitcoin fraud, and being oppressed in society. He also decided to end his own life.
However, his indifferent attitude about life actually offended Death and punished him with the game of death. Choi Yi Jae must go through death in 13 different lives over and over again, unless he finds a way to stop it. In addition to Seo In Guk and Park So Dam, Death’s Game is also studded with a lineup of A-class Korean artists.
7. Squid Game (2021)
Squid Game deserves to be called one of the most successful kdrama of all time in the international arena. Consisting of 9 episodes, this kdrama follows the life of Song Gi Hun who is trapped in a deadly game to win 45.6 billion Won.
It’s so exciting and successful, Squid Game will be made into a sequel. In fact, there is also a real reality show competition that ordinary people can participate in, but the punishment is of course not really losing their lives like in the drama!
8. Juvenile Justice (2022)
This kdrma tells the struggle of Judge Sim Eun Seok to navigate the juvenile justice system in South Korea. In this Korean drama that is less than 12 episodes, we will listen to Judge Sim’s efforts to punish criminals from underage age who are no less sadistic.
This kdrama , which again highlights Kim Hye Soo’s talent, only consists of 10 episodes. However, each part is guaranteed to make you furious and want to finish it immediately.
9. Semantic Error (2022)
This BL kdrama is based on a web novel with the same title by Jeo Soo Ri. The story is about Jang Jae Young who wanted to hit a junior. However, when encountered, apparently the figure of Chu Sang Woo actually makes Jae Young curious and wants to approach him.
This kdrama with a hate-to-love story only has 8 episodes with a duration of 25 minutes each. The prestige of Park Jae Chan and Park Seo Ham has skyrocketed since the success of this drakor kdrama is less than 12 episodes.
10. Vigilante (2023)
This Korean drama with less than 12 episodes is based on a webtoon by CRG and Kim Gyu Sam. From the outside, Kim Ji Young is an outstanding police cadet. However, he has another side that makes him a vigilante alias vigilante.
Secretly, Ji Young beats up criminals who have been untouched by the official legal system. However, this makes him questioned, is he no different from the criminals he punishes? Nam Joo Hyuk’s latest drama consists of 8 episodes.
11. The School Nurse Files (2020)
The School Nurse Files drama is played by Jung Yu Mi and Nam Joo Hyuk. The drama is adapted from Chung Serang’s 2015 novel School Nurse Ahn Eunyoung.
This drama will bring the audience to a quirky feel and be more curious about what will happen next, even making you not realize that you’ve finished watching all six episodes.
12. Strangers From Hell (2019)
This thriller drama only has 10 episodes. Strangers From Hell tells the story of Yeon Woo (Im Siwan) who just moved to Seoul for work. Because of the hustle and bustle of the harsh city, Yeon Woo is looking for a cheap and economical place to live.
Because of its cheapness, Yeon Woo’s neighbors are a group of strange people, ranging from those who like to share rotten eggs to thugs who like to get angry. Ready to watch this one drama?
13. Kingdom (2019)
This Kingdom drama is adapted from a webtoon called Burning Hell Shinui Nara written by Kim Eun Hee and illustrated by Yang Kyung Il. Each season, the drama has only six episodes.
Drama Kingdom tells the story of the Crown Prince of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) named Lee Chang (Ju Ji Hoon). He is accused of betrayal in a political game after the king contracts a deadly disease that turns him into a zombie.
14. Argon (2017)
This drama was broadcast by tvN in September 2017 and only has eight episodes. Argon drama tells the story of Kim Baek Jin (Kim Ju Hyuk) who works as a news reader and investigative reporter. He leads an investigative group called Argon.
In addition, there is another reporter named Lee Yeon Hwa (Chun Woo-hee) who is contracted for six months. When her contract was about to end, she was transferred to work in the Argon group and received a hard and strict upbringing by Baek Jin.
15. Avengers Social Club (2017)
The drama starring Ra Mi Ran, Lee Yo Won and Myung Se Bin has only 12 episodes. The Avengers Social Club drama tells the story of three women who join forces and work together to take revenge on the people who have hurt them.
Wrapped in the comedy genre, in carrying out the action they even use unusual ways that will make the audience laugh.
16. Sweet Home (2020)
This popular Netflix drama is an adaptation of a webtoon with the same title. Sweet Home stars several well-known actors and actresses such as Song Kang, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Si Young, Lee Do Hyun, and many others.
The drama, which only has 10 episodes, tells the condition of the world affected by the plague that makes all humans suddenly turn into monsters. Sweet Home drama became one of Netflix’s production dramas with a very large budget, which reached Rp35 billion for each episode.
17. The Light In Your Eyes (2019)
The Light In Your Eyes is one of the dramas that only has 12 episodes. This short and dense drama tells the story of Kim Hye Ja (played by Han Ji Min and Kim Hye Ja) who can turn back time. But because of that, he must return young.
Played by Han Ji Min, Nam Joo Hyuk and senior actress Kim Hye Ja, this drama will make you shed tears because of its touching story.
18. Pegasus Market (2019)
tvN’s drama is an adaptation of the webtoon with the same title. Pegasus Market tells the story of the lives of employees at a supermarket that is about to go bankrupt. Then they were sent a new boss who turned out to be a king.
Conflicts begin to occur when the new boss of the supermarket wants to bring down this store, while the manager wants to save it. Wrapped in a hilarious comedy, this drama will make you laugh out loud while watching it.
19. Nevertheless (2021)
The drama, which is everyone’s talk because of its exciting story, only has 10 episodes. Starring Song Kang and Han So Hee, the drama Nevertheless became the highlight of most KDrama fans, from the first episode to the last.
The drama tells the romantic story of Park Jae Eon (Song Kang) who doesn’t like relationships, but likes to flirt with many women. Meanwhile, Yoo Na Bi (Han So Hee) who wants to date, but doesn’t believe in love.
20. Move to Heaven (2021)
Next, there is a Netflix drama Move To Heaven with only 10 episodes. The drama stars Tang Joon Sang and Lee Jae Hoon in the lead roles, as well as many more.
Move To Heaven tells the story of Geu Ru (Tang Joon Sang) with Asperger’s syndrome and her uncle, Sang Gu (Lee Jae Hoon). They continue Geu Ru’s father’s business, which is a trauma cleaner who cleans the possessions of the dead. This drama is guaranteed to make the audience shed tears in each episode.
21. D.P (2021)
The latest is the drama D.P which only has six episodes on Netflix. Although only six episodes, viewers are guaranteed to be swept away by the tense and moving story.
D.P tells the story of Ahn Jun Ho (Jung Hae In) who underwent conscription and was elected to the Military Police. He joins the Deserter Pursuit division whose job is to catch draft deserters. Together with his partner, Han Ho Yeol (Koo Kyo Wan), Jun Ho hunts down deserters who have their own stories and backgrounds. Each episode is exciting, suspenseful, but also holds deep social criticism.
22. Extracurricular (2020)
Released on Netflix, Extracurricular tells the story of Oh Ji Soo who is known as a quiet and smart student. As the title suggests, apart from being a school student, it turns out that Ji Soo has an extra job outside of studying that could threaten his life.
Yes, for the sake of money, Ji Soo is willing to do anything including in a bad way so that this is where threats related to the crime syndicate involving him begin to emerge. This drama is only 10 episodes, so you can finish it in a day!
23. My Name (2021)
The drama starring Han So Hee tells the story of Yoon Ji Woo’s revenge for his father’s death on his 17th birthday. Ji Woo chose to become Choi Mu Jin’s subordinate who was her father’s former boss’s mafia.
After training under Mu Jin, Ji Woo infiltrates the police department’s drug unit. She disguises herself as a detective and begins to investigate who killed her father.
With only 8 episodes, this drama not only presents fistfight scenes. You will also be spoiled with a romantic story between the main cast.
24. Hellbound (2021)
Adapted from a legendary webtoon, this drama presents a story with the spice of the appearance of supernatural beings who suddenly appear to condemn people to hell. The drama also presents the story of The New Truth cult that is suspected of being the mastermind of this strange incident.
This interesting drama presents only 6 episodes and can be watched on Netflix.
25. Narco-Saints (2022)
NARCO-SAINTS tells the story of an ordinary man who becomes a businessman. But, he is not an ordinary businessman because he has to undergo a secret mission with the government in South Korea.
The secret mission he must do is help capture a South Korean drug kingpin disguised as a priest in Suriname, South America. This NARCO-SAINTS drama has only 6 episodes.
26. Somebody (2022)
This drama tells the story of a psychopathic killer who uses a dating app to lure victims into his trap. Behind it all, it turns out that the dating app developer is also investigating a murder case that makes them entangled in the web of a serial killer.
This drama only has 8 episodes and you can watch it on the Netflix streaming app. Oh yes, there are many unpleasant and mature scenes in this drama. Make sure you’re old enough to watch it!
27. Pachinko (2022)
This 8-episode drama tells the story of a woman named Sunja who has been abandoned by her partner Hansu for several years. Sunja was left pregnant and considered to have brought shame to her family.
She then married a young priest and chose to move to Japan. It turns out that Sunja’s life is not that easy, there are many twists and turns in life that she must experience after choosing to marry a priest.
Check out this drama only on Apple TV.
28. Queenmaker (2023)
Only 11 episodes, this drama released on Netflix tells the story of Hwang Do Hee, the genius behind the Eunsung group. Initially serving, but because she was betrayed by her own boss, she turned against the group of companies where she used to work through political channels.
In this drama you will see the cunning of businessmen and politicians in gaining power.
29. Anna (2022)
Yu Mi in this drama is told to live a completely different life from herself. Because of a lie she told, she has a husband named Ji Hun.
In this 6-episode drama, you will be presented with a story full of lies and tiring. Good thing the episodes are short!
30. The Silent Sea (2021)
This Kdrama tells the story of life on earth that has been in the year 2075. At that time, humans were in a difficult situation, because there was a food and water crisis.
Finally, a mission to the moon was carried out to overcome this crisis. A group of research teams is deployed to examine a mysterious sample at a long-abandoned research center.
This 8-episode drama is really worth watching because it presents an interesting story.
It turns out that many Korean dramas are not up to 12 episodes, but have a good story. No need to marathon for days, you can immediately finish it in one sitting, here!