In this study, on-site sewage treatment tests were conducted using the Absorbent Biofilter System (ABS) under different hydraulic loading rates to examine its treatment characteristics and efficiencies and to determine its feasibility as a small on-site sewage treatment system in a rural area. Results showed that the removal rates of BOD and SS were satisfactory at hydraulic loading rates of 100~150 cm/day, meeting the Korean effluent water quality standards for the riparian zone (10 mg/L). In the case of nutrients (N, P), however, the system did not perform well, necessitating further improvement for nutrient removal. A comparative analysis indicated that as a small on-site sewage treatment system, the ABS would be more suitable than other treatment systems in terms of performance stability, maintenance requirement, and cost-effectiveness and could be applied as an alternative treatment system in Korean rural areas.