Do you want to watch K-dramas but don’t have the time to invest in them? Worry not; we are here to give you a list of K-dramas with less episodes. These K-drama might have lesser episodes than usual, but they are no way less entertaining to watch a full 16 episodes long drama. In fact, we have come across people who often say that K-dramas sometimes feel dragged with 16 episodes, which made us look up and watch some K-dramas with less episodes. And boy, they were totally worth the time.
Many of the K-dramas that we will mention here are probably already watched by you, but if not, take it as a sign from the universe to watch it now. After all, these are K-dramas with less episodes. You will feel more fulfilled at the end of each of them. Many of them are underrated gems even, waiting to be discovered and blow up in the mainstream K-drama world. Read ahead for our favorite K-dramas with less episodes, and add them to your watchlist. And if you have already watched it, well, rewatch them.
K-Dramas With Less Episodes You Need To Watch Right Now
Sweet Home
This monster survival drama is one for the lists like these of K-dramas with less episodes. It offers so much in a few episodes. The drama is based on a webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan. The fans of the webtoon were anticipating its release, and they weren’t disappointed. The drama stars the K-drama heartthrob Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young, Lee Do-hyun, and Go Min-si as the main leads.
The drama revolves around a dilapidated housing society whose residents are stuck inside because of the rampage of monsters. After getting infected, Song Kang’s character Cha Hyun-soo uses his abilities as a half and half to fight off monsters and also while he tries to retain his own humanity.
The drama has 10 episodes and is a Netflix Original. The drama is confirmed to have two more subsequent seasons up for release in 2022.
Strangers From Hell
Strangers from Hell is probably one of the most wisely crafted K-dramas out there. If there is a pinnacle of psychological thriller K-dramas, this is it! The drama is based on a webtoon too of the same name by Kim Yong-ki. Its about a young man, Jong-woo (played by Im Si-wan), who moves to Seoul from countryside in hopes for a better life. Given his low financial status, he rents a room in a cheap gosiwon which houses the creepiest people to ever exist.
He tries to hold out no matter what, but he doesn’t realise it’s impossible to escape what he has gotten himself into. Strangers from Hell is probably one of the best K-dramas with less episodes, as it offers so much food for thought in just 10 episodes of 1 hour duration. The drama is a haunting allegory of what lies within. How people around you can drive you to be mad and make you do things you never dreamt of.
Strangers from Hell has 10 episodes, and honestly, even that seems insufficient for an amazing drama like this. 10/10 would recommend it! The drama is available on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Also Read: Strangers From Hell Ending Explained: What Happened to in the End? Spoilers and Assumptions
Extracurricular
This one is highly underrated, but is also one of the most amazing K-dramas to ever exist. Its a K-drama with less episodes, which makes it even more appealing. A bright but poor student Oh Ji-soo aspires to get into a good university after high school, and he wants to make money and save it for his university. In order to make money, he does a shady business, where he is almost pimping out girls, but only with consent from the girls.
He keeps his identity a secret, and has a helping hand called Mr. Lee, who safeguards the girls while they go for their job. One of Ji-soo’s curious classmates, the rich girl Bae Gyu-ri ends up finding about his secret. Although she initially blackmails him, but later becomes a part of his business. His secret business takes a turn for worst when a classmate who is one of the girls gets to know about him.
Extracurricular has 10 episodes, and take our word for it, it’s not boring even for a second. It’s a thrilling ride till the end. The drama is available on Netflix.
Hymn of Death
This is a historical drama that is based on true events. The events of the drama take place during Japan’s occupation of South Korea. It’s actually a tragic romance, but absolutely worth watching. We have Shin Hae-sun as Sim-deok, Joseon’s first Sporano, and Lee Jong-suk as playwright Kim Woo-jin. Woo-jin is married but ends up falling for Sim-deok as they travel from one place to other to showcase plays. The drama is a great insight into the times when Korea was just trying to find its grounding. Despite the tragic ending, the drama is absolutely worth your time.
Hymn of Death has only 3 episodes and is available on Netflix to watch.
Hellbound
This horror K-drama took over the world by storm towards the end of 2021. This Yoo Ah-in starrer drama is set in a future time, where some supernatural angel appears to people to declare their date and time of death and that they are destined to go to hell. On the much dreaded day, three humongous creatures arrive and kill the person by mauling and burning them in front of many as a demonstration.
This sudden phenomenon paves the way for a cult to begin, which leeches off of the fears of people, and madness ensues. However, all theories of this cult come under question when a newborn baby is given the declaration that they are bound to hell. The drama is unsettling yet absolutely worthy of watching. Though it’s one of the K-dramas with less episodes, it’s most likely to have a second season, too, so be prepared!
Hellbound has 6 episodes, and is a Netflix Original.
Navillera
Navillera is a heartfelt tale of friendship between an old man and a young guy in his 20s. Navillera is also based on a webtoon of the same name by Hun. The drama follows a 70-year-old man, Deok-chul, whose long-suppressed passion of becoming a ballerina is reignited again when he sees Lee Chae-rok practicing one day.
Although Chae-rok wants to give up ballet, when Deok-chul asks him to teach ballet, his entire perspective changes. Deok-chul is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but that doesn’t stop him from his dream performance of Swan Lake. The drama was able to capture the unusual friendship between the two, as they discover their true selves on the way.
Navillera has 12 episodes, and is available on Netflix. If you are in a slump, and looking for some motivation, Navillera is the drama for you.
Move to Heaven
Move to Heaven is truly an underrated gem and a heartfelt watch. A young boy Geu-ru with Asperger’s Syndrome, is reunited with his ex-convict uncle, Sang-gu, after his father’s death. Since Sang-gu is Geu-ru’s guardian now, he joins him in the family business of trauma cleaning. Trauma Cleaners basically go to crime scenes or just any accidents or attempted suicide scenes for cleaning up.
As Geu-ru and Sang-gu work in this area, they uncover so many facts and stories that a person might not have told while they were living. They see their past traumas while dealing with their own. Also, what incident led Sang-gu to jail in the first place is also revealed as we go ahead. The drama truly gives us a new perspective on life and grieve for others, as they all fought unknown battles we knew nothing about.
The drama has 10 episodes, and makes for a perfect K-drama with less episodes. Move to Heaven is available on Netflix.
My Name
My Name is a 2021 revenge thriller that gained a lot of buzz when it released. The drama stars Han So-hee as Ji-woo, who saw her father getting killed and vows to avenge his death. A man called Mu-jin, who claims to be her father’s loyal ally takes her under his wings and trains her to become a fighter. But Ji-woo doesn’t know that there’s more to see than what eyes can see.
With many plot twists, and a heart-wrenching ending, we all remain curious about what will happen in the upcoming episode. It’s a nail-biting thriller that you can finish in not much time. The drama’s soundtrack and cinematography are top-class too. Plus, Han So-hee’s acting takes it to another level.
My Name has 8 episodes and is a Netflix original drama.
Along with these, the supremely popular Squid Game is also nine episodes long, but we are pretty sure more than half of the world has already watched it. Web-series Adult Trainee and Nevertheless are great watches too, which you can give a chance after watching these.
Also Read: My Name Review: A Revenge Saga That Took Everyone’s Breath Away
