ExplainerFrom Jewel in the Palace to Nevertheless and Kingdom, K-dramas have got shorter and second seasons more common

Prime-time K-dramas once ran for 50 episodes and rarely renewed, but the most common length for a show now is 16 episodes and sequels are increasingly common

Thanks to platforms like Netflix, a six-part show with episodes barely half an hour long are possible as there is no obligation to fit into a broadcast schedule

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Shin Hye-sun (left) and Kim Jung-hyun in a still from Mr. Queen. K-dramas on prime-time used to run 50+ episodes long. Now, period dramas like Mr. Queen tend to be no more than 20 episodes.

Published: 2:45pm, 15 Aug 2021Updated: 2:47pm, 15 Aug 2021

Like the varied stories, locations and characters they depict, a K-drama show can be divided into any number of episodes – which vary in length – and may be a limited series or leave open the option of a second season.

The industry has changed a lot over the years and, as it has grown more sophisticated, it has opted for tighter shows, dropping the longer period dramas that used to be common.

Yet things are being shaken up again by the arrival of streaming services, each with their own standards. What’s more, each year seems to bring with it a larger crop of follow-up seasons, something which used to be extremely rare.

Most prime-time Korean dramas air episodes on consecutive nights twice a week, and occupy those slots for around two months. Compare that to typical Western network shows, which air just once a week but pump out new episodes for as much as six months of the year, with the story always angling towards a new season – whether the network gives the green light for one or not.

For K-drama fans, this is seen as the ideal structure: a full story given plenty of time to breathe, but with a clear conclusion. The long episodes and twice-weekly broadcast slots demand a lot of viewer engagement, but the two-month run makes it a rich journey since it is short enough to stave off ennui.

How many episodes?