"Wish this doesn't become a norm"— Fans disappointed as upcoming 2025 K-dramas are speculated to have no more than 12 episodes

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, a speculated list of MBC's 2025 K-dramas landed online. The list revealed a few details regarding upcoming shows, including the number of episodes. The speculated list mentioned that the 2025 K-drama lineup will have around 10-12 episodes. Therefore, many fans and netizens were shocked to realize that most K-dramas have only 12 episodes or less than that.

Given that K-dramas are typically known for being longer, with a minimum of 16 episodes, fans were confused by the sudden and consistent decrease in length. However, the reactions to this shift were mixed. While some fans liked the shortened dramas as they omit the fillers and stretchy plots, others were upset about the shifting standard of K-dramas.

One fan expressed their disappointment saying:

"As much as I appreciate not dragging the drama &ending it within reasonable eps. I m still a sucker for 16 or 20 eps of drama w a good storyline ofcs. I just wish this doesn't become a norm."

Here are a few fan reactions regarding the same:

"16 ep kdramas truly running to extinction" said a fan on X.

"Ok when I said I love 12 ep dramas I didn’t mean for everyone !" added another fan.

"a big loss for the kdrama community and i blame you b*tches who complain over anything" commented a netizen.

On the other hand, some fans were happy about the speculated shortened length of K-dramas.

"this might be a veryyyy unpopular opinion but I like the 12 eps only kdrama, only ‘cause most kdramas run their course by the 12th ep and the rest of the eps are all dragged on and on" said another fan.

"i don't actually hate shorter dramas... quality > quantity and i think it takes an extremely talented writer to be able to drag a story out more than 10 eps" stated an X user.

"It’s a nice change that the episodes are 12 or less now, I personally think 16 eps are a lot" added another user.

"I think it’s good tbh no time for fillers eps, the story will usually be packed for short eps drama like this." commented a netizen on X.

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What to expect for the 2025 K-dramas that are scheduled to release next year?

Like to the previous years of the K-drama industry, the 2025 K-dramas are expected to bring the same amount of diversity. While some are expected to be sequels of previously released K-dramas, other have caught fans' attention through their casting or intriguing plots.

One of the most awaited releases from the 2025 K-dramas is Squid Game season 3. The show's initial season took over the internet during its release in 2021. With Squid Game season 2 set to premiere on December 26, 2024, the show is also confirmed to have a season 3 release in 2025, which is expected to have seven episodes.

On the other hand, fans have also been thrilled about the casting for the upcoming MBC K-drama series, 21st Centursy Grand Prince's Wife. The show is expected to star Byeon Woo-seok and IU. The series is expected to showcase the blossoming love story of a prince who was inherited as a royal family member and a woman who's the mastermind of Korea's biggest conglomerate.

Here are the other 2025 K-dramas that are also scheduled to release:

• Can This Love Be Translated?
• Cashero
• Marcy for None
• Trigger
• When Life Gives You Tangerines
• The Price of Confession
• Two Women
• You Killed

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While fans and netizens are excited about the 2025 K-dramas lineups, the debates on the alleged shortened length for K-dramas have been ongoing.