BL Short movies and Mini dramas - Korea

Sometimes, you don't have the patience to watch a full drama or movie. Then, it's perfect to go for a mini-series or short movies. Besides, you might miss out on some gems if you ignore titles just because you assume things. There is a treasure trove of short movies and mini-dramas in Asian BL, especially South Korea and Thailand have churned out a ton of them--some great, some not so great. China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong) has produced a couple of really nice mini-mini-series worth a watch. Here are the South Korean ones.

All the titles are included in my main Asian BL list, but that one is growing huge (755+ titles and counting) so I'll further narrow it down into separate lists, by category. 

By "short" movies or "mini-dramas" I refer to independent stories that are considerably shorter than a "normal" full-length movie (have a running time of approximately an hour or less), and mini-series with either a very short episode runtimes--or very few episodes.
I will not be listing titles that are specials connected to existing dramas or movies--only original works.


The lists only contain titles in which BL/Gay/Male Bi characters/themes play a fairly big role. (Or exclusively.) 


Lists are updated occasionally.

Note; I'm calling it BL to keep it simple--it would be more correct to say "stories about guys who like guys", since there is a significant difference in Gay themes and what BL nowadays has come to mean.

Bambikill Feb 26, 2020
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  • A Naked Boy

    1. A Naked Boy

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Short.

  • As if You Whisper

    2. As if You Whisper

    Korean Movie - 2019

    7.5

    Short of the longer kind. (Aboutish 45 minutes).

    I was a little bit disappointed in this one... Because I loved the first half. It had full-lenght-flick quality to it, and there would have been material to make a full movie from it, and it would have ended up a lovely, light and spring-like romance story--the type of low-key indie flick I adore.
    But IMO, the director made a crucially bad choice and strayed from that feel... 

    I'd spoil if I elaborated more than that, but let's just say that there was a plot component shoved in, that should have been left out. Or at least done differently. Even though it was small, and was kind of poignant for the development of the rest of the movie, IMO, it cracked that simple, fragile feel and tainted it with a cliché melodrama-plot device. And they didn't even make use of the whole thing and just brushed it away. 

    Sigh... 

    Well, despite that--this was one of my fav Korean BL shorts and I absolutely loved the subtle and soft chemistry between the guys. They were just somehow perfect together, in a way I can't quite put my finger on.
    The first part--even though it's a plot thing I don't like (music/idol/whatever-industry... who cares...), I still fell for it. The first half I adore. The rest was okay.

  • Being Me

    3. Being Me

    Korean Movie - 2018

    8.0

    One of the better shorts from South Korea, well worth a watch. It's not that special that many make it out to be--the focus isn't entirely where it should have been--but it's still good. Just not great.

  • Blueming

    4. Blueming

    Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes

  • Boy Meets Boy

    5. Boy Meets Boy

    Korean Movie - 2008

    5.5

    Short.

  • Boys Dormitory

    6. Boys Dormitory

    Korean Drama - 2017, 2 episodes

    Short.

  • Buddy Park

    7. Buddy Park

    Korean Movie - 2018

    Short.

  • Color Rush

    8. Color Rush

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    9.0

    This struck a chord with me, to an extent that very few pieces ever has done.
    Even though I'm borderline compulsively objective, I just can't be with this one.

    That feeling Yeon Woo gets whenever he sees color? I got a little piece of that when watching this. 

    I won't call myself an artist, since I totally suck. But I've been glued to pencils, crayons, paints and pens since I was old enough to grab them. Losing my eyesight--losing the world and all the colors in it--would kill me. So the theme... Iget it. I truly, truly get it..
    Also, I have sensory hypersensitivity, so I know that pleasure rush of awe.

    But this drama has even more than the exceptionally unique story that it is on the surface. Put these guys and the way they experience their world and each other, in a deeper context.
    Alienation, loneliness, "lack of color" in a metaphorical sense rather than actual--and the emotions evoked when finding someone who (or something that) normalizes it all. The high when discovering it--and the extreme pain of then losing it.
    I truly get this part, too. 

    There are profound thoughts and concepts handed out, but it's never written on the nose--it's subtle enough to avoid that trap. Some scenes are just exceptional. Like the one in school when Yoo Han is trying to convince Yeon Woo by talking about color theory and showing him the color chart. To be able to make such an innocent scene so sexually tense--one truly is a hell of a script writer... The effect is awesome, and shows us just how tempted and mesmerized Yeon Woo really is. 

    The drama is so solid, so well told, and so well acted, that it became an instant fav of mine--even though I usually prefer to keep away from anything that even slightly resembles fantasy-themes.
    Sure, it has a few flaws. Sometimes, the editing is a bit stupid and some parts of the plot are left hanging--but overall, this is a great, great, great little piece of art. 

  • Discipline

    9. Discipline

    Korean Drama - 2018, 6 episodes

    Mini-drama.

  • Dom

    10. Dom

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Don't Worry

    11. Don't Worry

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short, of the long kind. (About 1 hour runtime).

  • Euigon

    12. Euigon

    Korean Movie - 2019

    Short.

  • Faceless Things

    13. Faceless Things

    Korean Movie - 2005

    Short, of the long kind. (About 1 hour runtime).

  • Fingers After

    14. Fingers After

    Korean Movie - 2021

  • Fly by Night

    15. Fly by Night

    Korean Movie - 2011

    Short.

  • FMSM

    16. FMSM

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Free Bird

    17. Free Bird

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • Gay Out Soon

    18. Gay Out Soon

    Korean Movie - 2012

    Part of the compilations "Gay Out Soon".

  • Gay Out Soon 2: Second Life

    19. Gay Out Soon 2: Second Life

    Korean Movie - 2013

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Gay Out Soon 3: Some

    20. Gay Out Soon 3: Some

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Gay Out Soon 4: Rumor

    21. Gay Out Soon 4: Rumor

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Gay Out Soon 5: Free Dating

    22. Gay Out Soon 5: Free Dating

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of short films.

  • Going South

    23. Going South

    Korean Movie - 2012

    Short.

  • Green Light

    24. Green Light

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • Hold Me

    25. Hold Me

    Korean Movie - 2021

  • I Don't Care

    26. I Don't Care

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • I'm Horny Now!

    27. I'm Horny Now!

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • I’ll Be with You

    28. I’ll Be with You

    Korean Movie - 2012

    Short.

  • Invitation

    29. Invitation

    Korean Movie - 2013

    Short.

  • Jealousy is My Guest

    30. Jealousy is My Guest

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • Just Friends?

    31. Just Friends?

    Korean Movie - 2009

    Short of the long kind. (54 minutes).

  • Late Bloomer

    32. Late Bloomer

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • Long Time No See

    33. Long Time No See

    Korean Drama - 2017, 5 episodes

    9.0

    I LOVED this. If you liked "HIStory 3: Trapped" and similar bad guys vs. cops or other clandestine enemies becoming lovers-themes, you will too.
    Here, the feel is much darker, though. But not dark as in depressing--just more thriller-esque.
    This is paired up with sweet romance--and those two shouldn't mix well, but they do...  

    For such a short drama, it's very well rounded and feels like a much longer story due to good planning and directing. (What I would give to see this in the episode count of "Trapped"...) Thoroughly entertaining, interesting, exciting and has some squeal-worthy moments including a classy and sweet love-scene.
    Acting is nice, production great, it's just really well balanced for such a contrast in main themes. 

  • Love 100° C

    34. Love 100° C

    Korean Movie - 2010

    Short.

  • Matching! Boys Archery

    35. Matching! Boys Archery

    Korean Drama - 2016, 8 episodes

    Mini-drama. 

    Not actual BL, but imagined such--through the eyes of a fangirl.

  • Mind.

    36. Mind.

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • Mr. Heart

    37. Mr. Heart

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    8.0

    Mini-drama. Also available in  compiled movie format. 

    Set in a university track-and-field team, this is a light-weight and innocent, but quite adorable little drama. Well worth a watch.

  • Mr. Heart Special

    38. Mr. Heart Special

    Korean Special - 2020, 1 episode

    5.0

    Special connected to the drama "Mr Heart". Basically, just interviewing the actors. Not good, not bad. Just not relevant unless one wants to swoon over the actors...

  • My Eleventh Brother

    39. My Eleventh Brother

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • My Personal Trainer

    40. My Personal Trainer

    Korean Movie - 2019

    Short.

  • My Pistachio

    41. My Pistachio

    Korean Movie - 2018

    7.5

    Another Korean short worth a watch. However, I don't like it as much as many others do. It's good film-making, but the story just isn't entertaining enough to make me fall for it as hard as many seem to have done.  

  • Nabang Spark

    42. Nabang Spark

    Korean Movie - 2011

    Short.

  • One Last Order

    43. One Last Order

    Korean Movie - 2019

    Short.

  • One Night Only

    44. One Night Only

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • Open

    45. Open

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Short.

  • Private Lessons

    46. Private Lessons

    Korean Movie - 2020

    Short.

  • Queer Movie 20

    47. Queer Movie 20

    Korean Movie - 2013

    Part of the "Queer Movie" series of shorts of varying length.

  • Queer Movie Beautiful

    48. Queer Movie Beautiful

    Korean Movie - 2018

    Part of the "Queer Movie" series of shorts of varying length.

  • Queer Movie Butterfly: The Adult World

    49. Queer Movie Butterfly: The Adult World

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Part of the "Queer Movie" series of shorts of varying length.

  • Queer Movie: Candy

    50. Queer Movie: Candy

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Part of the "Queer Movie" series of shorts of varying length.

  • REC

    51. REC

    Korean Movie - 2011

    Very long short--or very short full lenght movie. Depends on how you see it. (1 hr 6 min).

  • Secret

    52. Secret

    Korean Movie - 2013

    Short.

  • Secret Roommate

    53. Secret Roommate

    Korean Movie - 2020

    Short.

  • Secret Spectacles

    54. Secret Spectacles

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • So Refreshed!

    55. So Refreshed!

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • Some More

    56. Some More

    Korean Movie - 2018

    8.0

    One of the best BL shorts to come from South Korea, IMO. A simple little story, but with a lot of heart and a very nice, summery atmosphere. Worth a watch.

  • Step for You

    57. Step for You

    Korean Movie - 2018

    6.5

    Short.

    Umm... the MDL rating...
    What...?

    I haven't got the slightest clue how people can rate this so high, because this isn't good. It's acceptable, but far from the quality it may seem to have if one trusts the rating. 

    It's completely unoriginal--which in itself would be fine, if it was made really well. But it isn't...
    It's flat, completely lacks any depth and is just a run-of-the-mill short that one will forget as soon as it ends. It lacks artistic quality and doesn't make use of it's time--which are crucial keys to making a good short film. In 20 minutes--it tells less, and with less emotion, than the super-short "Summerdaze" (also a Korean one) tells in just 2-3 minutes. That says a lot.

    It's not BAD. I'm just completely baffled over the 8,1 (as of right now) MDL rating.
    Like... seriously...?

  • Suddenly Last Summer

    58. Suddenly Last Summer

    Korean Movie - 2012

    Short.

  • Summerdaze

    59. Summerdaze

    Korean Special - 2018, 1 episode

    8.0

    This is so beautiful--visually as well as emotionally. Just a little glimpse, like a poem or a memory, yet it tells a big story considering the runtime of just a few minutes. You get it. 

    The cutting was a bit too rushed, I would personally have chosen to have fewer scenes but a few seconds longer--if they had to keep it under those few minutes.
    But very beautiful. I would have loved to see a longer version.

  • Table Manner

    60. Table Manner

    Korean Movie - 2018

    Short.

  • Tea Time

    61. Tea Time

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Part of the "Gay Out Soon" compilations of shorts.

  • The Coldest Day

    62. The Coldest Day

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • The Confidential Coffee Brake

    63. The Confidential Coffee Brake

    Korean Movie - 2021

  • The Massage

    64. The Massage

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • The Name Game

    65. The Name Game

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • The Offender

    66. The Offender

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • The Perfect Man's Man

    67. The Perfect Man's Man

    Korean Movie - 2011

    Short.

  • The Postcard

    68. The Postcard

    Korean Movie - 2007

    Short.

  • The Spring In My Life

    69. The Spring In My Life

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • The Turning Road

    70. The Turning Road

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • Tilted Summer

    71. Tilted Summer

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • To My Star

    72. To My Star

    Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

    7.0

    Mini-drama. Also available in compiled movie format.

    The two Korean mini-dramas released approximately at the same time--this one and "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart"--have quite different ratings, with this one having a considerably higher one. 

    Which I don't quite get.

    To me, they're equal in quality, so I've rated them the same, but in terms of likeability and entertainment value--this one loses. 

    It's well made, acting is good, there's nothing particularly WRONG with it--but I still didn't "feel" it. The short runtime, of course, makes it hard to achieve any real depth to the characters and story--but that's still not an excuse, when there are other mini-dramas that have managed to, even with episode counts and runtime less than this one has. 

    I'd say that my overall feeling was... underwhelmed. Slightly bored. 

    Yikes. This sounds bad... lol...
    Which it isn't. I guess I just think it was very, very forgettable. Flat.

  • Triple - Do You Want?

    73. Triple - Do You Want?

    Korean Movie - 2020

    Short.

  • Turnover

    74. Turnover

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • Turquoise Sky

    75. Turquoise Sky

    Korean Movie - 2014

    Short.

  • Ugly People

    76. Ugly People

    Korean Movie - 2016

    Short.

  • Uninvited

    77. Uninvited

    Korean Movie - 2017

    Short.

  • Weird Housemates

    78. Weird Housemates

    Korean Movie - 2015

    Short.

  • What You Believe

    79. What You Believe

    Korean Movie - 2018

    Short.

  • Where Your Eyes Linger

    80. Where Your Eyes Linger

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    7.5

    Mini-drama. 

    I'm not THAT huge a fan, but it's definitely worth a watch. I prefer the slightly altered movie version. 

  • Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart

    81. Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    7.0

    Mini-mini-drama. Also available in compiled movie format.

    I wasn't very impressed with the latest Korean BL mini-dramas, but this was by far better than the much higher rated "To My Star". 

    The synopsis made me suspicious, since i expected something shallow "idoly", but it wasn't like that at all. A simple and straight-forward little love story that was quite adorable. 

    It's lacking in depth, and that's definitely because of the short runtime, but it makes up for it decently, with a beautiful score and OST, good acting and a nice production with many beautiful scenes and atmosphere. 

    Nothing I'll remember for a long time--but definitely not a waste of time.

  • You Make Me Dance

    82. You Make Me Dance

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    7.5

    Mini-drama. (8 x aboutish 13 minutes.)

    Hmm. For some reason, I didn't like this. I enjoyed the other recent Korean mini dramas more, even though they were less qualitative... I'll give a decent rating because it's pretty well produced and there's nothing WRONG with it--it just didn't hit home with me. I get annoyed with unrealistic plot/relationship developments--and here, it's too much for me. Sure,when talking about BL--realistic stories are rare. But as long as it's built up and elaborated from the haphazard meeting/hook-up, it's fine. Especially if it's the sillier kind of BL. 

    But this isn't silly--so it becomes awkward. And the relationship dynamics are fuzzy and somehow... the characters keep their feelings and thoughts to themselves. There is no need to write it on the nose, but some kind of outreach, explanation, voicing out what takes place in their minds and hearts--is kind of crucial to make us believe what happens on the screen.
    This doesn't. 

    It's cute and all that... but it's flat. The characters are flat and the story is told in that shallow and "let's show a little bit of this and a little bit of that, screw the fluidity" kind of way.
    Which is a pity, since the plot premise was kind of unique. 

    Acting was fair, but not in any way exceptional. 

    Random cred; The far-from-acceptable dancing by the MC, was edited quite cleverly and smoothly and almost pulled off fooling an experienced and critical eye.
    Tech work was quite nice with some extra lovely shots. 

    And above all; Cred to South Korea for developing their BL, and managing to dig out a path of their own, with a distinct flavour that differs from the Japanese and Taiwanese productions, even though they have similarities.

  • You Used To Smile That Way

    83. You Used To Smile That Way

    Korean Movie - 2009

    Short.

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