Korea’s KT Studio Genie is on a microdrama roll, saying this week that its short-form series are rocking global platforms DramaBox and ReelShort. The two titles driving burgeoning optimism are “The Janitor's Second Marriage” (a remake of “I’m Not 50” starring Go Joo-won) and “Jamanchu Clubhouse” – both released in January.

KT Studio Genie, which has previously talked about “conquering” the global market with its short-form shows, is producing 56 original short-form series a year (or more than one a week), and says with the help of AI-based infrastructure, it will "emerge as a leading global K-short-form studio”. The “specialised” short-form strategy was announced in April 2025.

The Korean producer is also taking the opportunity to link its “proven planning and production capabilities” (read ‘long-form drama experience’) to its newfound short-form success, and said AI and other tech would allow it to drive overall production costs down by 40% in future.

“This achievement is an example of how the planning and narrative capabilities accumulated through the production of long-form dramas are also effective in short-form content,” KT Studio Genie said.

Growth forecasts include genre expansion – including sci-fi, fantasy and period drama – previously difficult to achieve in short-form because of the high costs.

The company said the use of technology was expected to “lead the diversification of short-form genres, which have traditionally been centered around romance and revenge, and serve as a key foundation for realizing creators' imaginations”.

KT Studio Genie says its competitive edge lies in its short-form studio model, which controls the entire process from investment to production and distribution, including owning the IP.

Production partnerships have been inked with short-form producers such as New Universe and Pullim. The studio has also established a fast-track global release system with platforms including DramaBox, Reelshort, Goodshot, Shortmax and iQiyi International as well as Korea’s TVing and Vigloo.

KT Studio Genie Content Business Division Managing Director Oh Gi-je said that demand for premium short-form content unique to Korea was expanding rapidly, particularly in North America and Southeast Asia.

“Short-form content will go beyond snack culture and become a staple of everyday life,” he said, adding that KT Studio Genie would “redefine the global standard for K-short-form content through global mega-IP remakes and full AI short-form content production”.