Korea turns to short-form dramas as mobile viewing takes off
Set against the nostalgic backdrop of the Korean countryside in the1980s, "Reply, Bok-hee!" centers on the warm yet chaotic bond between a rough-around-the-edges man and a young child, Bok-hee, neither of whom come from loving family backgrounds. As the two form an unconventional family, the series offers a softer alternative to the sensational storylines that have come to define short-form dramas. The series is part of a rapidly expanding market in Korea. Unlike conventional series, short-form dramas are typically shot vertically for smartphone viewing, with episodes usually running only one to three minutes long. They are designed for mobile platforms rather than traditional television, encouraging viewers to watch episode after episode in quick succession. Originating in China around 2018, short-form dramas typically consist of 50 to 80 serialized episodes, with each episode clocking at less than five minutes. Relying on melodramatic tropes — secret lineages, extramarital affairs and relentless revenge arcs — the format was designed to quickly hook audiences into a binge-watching
