Southeast Asia's Longest-Running TV Series

Television drama and comedy have long been an important part of popular culture in Southeast Asia. Across the region, several productions have achieved remarkable episode counts, becoming familiar fixtures in viewers’ daily lives.

From Cambodia and Indonesia to Vietnam and the Philippines, these series demonstrate the endurance of local television and the strong connection audiences have with long-running stories.

In Cambodia, Ruos Cheat Jivit stands among the country’s notable long-form television productions. The series began and ended in 2004, with 100 episodes. Although its run was relatively short compared with some of the region’s giants, it represents Cambodia’s contribution to Southeast Asia’s television history.

Indonesia has produced the longest-running series on this list: Tukang Ojek Pengkolan. Premiering in 2015, the popular series continued until 2023, reaching an extraordinary 3,522 episodes. Its enormous episode total reflects the popularity of Indonesian daily television and its ability to sustain a series for many years.

In Malaysia, Gerak Khas became a television institution. The police drama ran from 1999 to 2021 and accumulated 1,054 episodes, making it one of Malaysia’s most prolific television productions. Its long run helped establish the series as a recognizable part of Malaysian television.

Myanmar’s contribution is Chit Hla Swa Thaw, which aired from 2023 to 2024 and consisted of 78 episodes. While considerably shorter than the longest-running productions in the region, it adds to the diversity of Southeast Asia’s television landscape.

The Philippines is represented by FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, one of the country’s most successful long-running dramas. Broadcast from 2015 to 2022, the series concluded after an impressive 1,696 episodes, becoming a major television phenomenon during its seven-year run.

In Singapore, KIN aired from 2018 to 2022, reaching 854 episodes. Its substantial episode count places it among the region’s longest-running contemporary television series.

Thailand has an especially notable entry with Pen Tor. Beginning in 2004, the comedy series has surpassed 950 episodes and is still running, making it one of Southeast Asia’s enduring television programs.

Finally, Vietnam’s 5S Online ran from 2012 to 2018 and completed 869 episodes. Its successful six-year run demonstrates the popularity of serialized comedy and youth-oriented entertainment in Vietnamese television.

Together, these eight series showcase the extraordinary scale and longevity of Southeast Asian television. Their episode counts range from dozens to several thousand, reflecting different broadcasting traditions while highlighting one common factor: the enduring appetite of audiences for homegrown entertainment.