Short-form dramas, films show possibilities of untapped market in Korea

Short-form video is already popular globally, including in China and the United States. It has tremendous potential in Korea when paired with the production expertise of K-drama creators to make short-form series, industry officials said Tuesday.
PulsePick, a streaming platform specializing in servicing short-form series which soft-launched last December, announced a series of upcoming originals during a media event in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. PulsePick series typically span 50-150 episodes, each episode a minute or two long. Viewers can access each episode for 500 won (34 cents).
According to the company, the value of the short-form series and films market globally reached approximately 52 trillion won in 2024, growing at a compound annual rate of 60 percent. Despite this rapid global expansion, Korea’s short-form series and films market remains in its infancy, and PulsePick aims to secure an early lead, the company said.
At the press event, PulsePick outlined three core strategies: collaborating with top-tier production teams to deliver high-quality content, diversifying its offerings across genres, and updating its platform weekly with fresh series to enhance viewer engagement.
Si Ui-seon, PulsePick’s chief business officer, emphasized the advantages of short-form video in addressing modern consumer demands. “Short-form content is perfect for fulfilling consumers' needs, offering clear differentiators in production efficiency and viewer convenience. Platforms can produce more with lower investment, while consumers enjoy bite-sized entertainment that fits into busy schedules,” Si said.
She also highlighted plans to strengthen localization efforts by developing regionally tailored short series. The platform is partnering with domestic production companies such as JDB ENT and Studio Unico, alongside international collaborators such as Japan’s Nippon TV and China’s Zhongjing E-sports Entertainment Co.
“We plan to expand globally by harnessing the strengths of K-content,” Si added.
PulsePick CEO Kwon Myung-ja noted that Korea is still an emerging player in short-form series and film. “While the boom here only began last year, China has been (consuming short-form series and film) for about three years, and their market is now approaching saturation,” Kwon said.
Kwon said, with Korea just getting started, the potential is enormous. "Korean dramas, webtoons and music are already beloved globally. By blending the expertise of Korean creators with insights from China’s short-form boom, we can create truly unique and compelling content,” Kwon explained.
PulsePick currently offers original content such as "The Code Name B" and "Single Men and Women" (direct translation). Upcoming 2025 releases include "He Returned" (direct translation), starring Cha Sun-woo (formerly Baro of B1A4), "No MZ for Old Men" (direct translation), created by SNL Korea writer Ahn Yong-jin and starring veteran actor Kim Ki-hyun, and "All or Nothing" featuring god’s Danny Ahn.
Director Lee Chang-woo, known for previously co-directing MBC hit series "Knight Flower," spoke about the unique challenges of filming short-form series encountered while directing "The Code Name B."
"(Filming a) Short-form drama was especially challenging because it was our first experience. In particular, our actors and staff found it difficult because the pacing was so different,” Lee said. "What was most challenging on set was figuring out how to handle (scene) cuts and how the actors could deliver their lines and maintain continuity within such a short amount of time. That was really difficult."