AI is breathing new life into K-dramas.
Soonshot, a Singapore-based app that bills itself as the world’s first international short-form K-drama platform, has partnered with BytePlus, the technology provider and enterprise arm of ByteDance, to launch an AI-powered mobile app that delivers one- to two-minute “snackable” K-drama episodes on Sep 22.
Soonshot uses BytePlus’s toolkit to create seamless experiences, including AI personlisation that tailors recommendations in real time, buffer-free streaming via global CDN (Content Delivery Network), and real-time analytics that help creators refine scenes based on viewer reactions.
The app is co-founded by South Korean comedian Lee Kyung-yu and CEO of Seoul-based entertainment business ADG Company, Erica Park.
“Soonshot brings the emotional depth of K-dramas at short-form speed,” said Park. “Inspired by China’s short-form boom, we’re elevating content with authentic K-flavor, powered by BytePlus tech to deliver what fans crave while building a sustainable, direct-to-fan model for IP value.”
In less than three months, Soonshot has attracted 110,000 users acrosss seven countries, with average sessions lasting 22 minutes, which the company cliams is proof of the draw of tech-enhanced short stories.
Singapore was an “ideal starting point” for Soonshot
ADG Company lauded Singapore’s strong digital penetration, advanced payment infrastructure, and influential media landscape that make it a natural hub for premium K-content and an ideal starting point for expansion.
Since its Singapore launch, Soonshot has rolled out in countries including Indonesia and the Philippines, citing strong engagement metrics: Indonesians spend an average of six hours daily on mobile devices, with K-content accounting for 30% of streams, while Filipinos generate over 100 million monthly K-hashtag views.
The platform has also expanded further into the US and Japan.
Beyond streaming, Soonshot said it is building “immersive fandoms” through hosting fan communities for chats and discussions via a membership model, evolving it into a fuller K-culture lifestyle platform.
“We prioritize long-term growth through fandoms and IP creation over quick profits,” Park added.
By 2026, Soonshot aims to release 100 original titles and evolve into a more holistic K-culture lifestyle platform beyond hosting fandom communities with exclusive content and merchandise.