MsLattés Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #19): Our noona days may be behind us but the ajummas of darkness will unleash their inner Gangnam leopards as the festive season approaches

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. (MsLatte is a Her Private Life reference.) Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime. There are also platforms streaming content illegally if you go looking, but we don’t promote them as they are peppered with pop-ups of “Olga” and friends offering a good time, which gets in the way of the drama.

We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when. The previous thread is here but our ‘Addicts Recommend’ list below is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk are more uniformly loved or admired. In categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier moments. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance, eg about suitability for younger teens.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)
I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki/Netflix)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

Crime/Thriller

Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Graceful Family (Viki)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)

Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, no major site yet)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Stranger - 2 seasons (Netflix)
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki/Netflix)
Crowned Clown (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (Viki)

Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*

His Master’s Sun (Netflix)

Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*

She Was Pretty (Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)

What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)


Romance - heavier weight/more grown up themes
Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki/Netflix)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Netflix)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)
It’s OK Not To Be OK (Netflix)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (other sites)
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Handmaid (film, Netflix - content warning: explicit sexual content)
The Package (Viki)



Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)
Into The Ring (Viki)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
Misaeng (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Once Again (Viki)
Stove League (Viki)

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier
Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
Kiss Goblin (Viki, webdrama)
My Holo Love (Netflix)*
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*



Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes
Black (Netflix)*
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*

Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
The Guest (Netflix)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*
Zombie Detective (Viki)


Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
My Secret Romance (Viki)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)
School Nurse Files (Netflix)

Not Korean but decent quality
Regulars also branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Find Yourself (Netflix - Chinese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki - Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki - Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix - Chinese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2019
(courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, which are updated by/for thread regulars)

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, film and music when the mood takes us. Quite a few of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.


We have a few frequently used acronyms:

FL/2FL = female lead/2nd female lead

ML/2ML = male lead/2nd male lead

SLS = Second Lead Syndrome (where the FL/ML is too dense to realise the 2ML/2FL is better)
🥾🍑 (boot, peach) = kick up the arse to go to bed



We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but usually with an obvious abbreviation. Some favourite actors & actresses have been abbreviated for speed/efficiency, eg Park Min Young (PMY), Kim Jae Wook (KJW). Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.



If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in…

[quote JinBhoot]@Rowdythree Hospital Playlist is my top favourite drama, I would suggest to re-watch first episode after watching couple of episodes.[/quote]
Thanks for the tip Jin 👍

I have just finished ep 1 of Misaeng. Poor Geu Rae - that hideous octopus/squid task! 🤢

@JinBhoot... Rookie? Yaaaaay! 👍👍👍

AAAhahahahaha! The apology letter! (Misaeng ep5) I'm falling in love with Sales Team 3.
And hate hate hate the resource team

Belated Happy New Year everyone! I'm happy it should bring the return of Lee Jong Suk (I'm hoping he's as beautiful as ever), but sad that Kim Myung-soo is apparently going off to be a marine! 😭

I've been binge watching FMIYM after seeing the recommendations on here, but am bracing myself for episode 15 (geared up on my laptop, while the kids play minecraft downstairs), as I'm not sure I can face the ml's trauma! I thought the Dr had scuppered the evil advanced bionic brain engineering professor's plans, but clearly not well enough! In a few minutes I'll be brave and watch it and hope that eabbep gets his comeuppance and that it all ends happily!

After I finish this I really need some recommendations for a 'gripping but happy' kdrama with a beautiful ml please, as before this I rewatched romance is a bonus book and she is beautiful, as I couldn't find anything to get into. Otherwise I think I'll rewatch the eternal monarch with a new appreciation for the 2nd ml...

Oh and if you're looking for strong piggyback contenders, the beautiful swimming guy from strong girl bong-soon and bride of haebek looks like he could carry some weight! 😁

Argh, sorry I mean weightlifting-fairy, not strong girl! It was Nam Joo-Hyuk I meant...

I seem to be taking a break from the last 5 hours of FMIYM by rewatching 3 hours of Her Private Life. But it's on my phone so that doesn't count does it? Plus I have definitely loaded the dishwasher as well...AND made some toast.
Delighted that Misaeng is drawing you in. You don't think a bit of misplaced photocopying or a daring slide order about a used car deal in Jordan could make you gasp or your heart race but THEN.
Became a bit obsessed with Korean office water coolers that also dispense hot water! So nifty! But not sure I would trust for tea 🤔

@polkettle I am so glad that there are others who binge watch like me. I must do some laundry today.

Hot water in those coolers are useless for tea, I am sure their sole purpose to mix it with cold water to avoid brain freeze.

I am back to work from tomorrow so don’t know how I will manage my Kdrama fix.

Starting Rookie Historian today & Misaeng is on the list.
PS: I have installed Netflix on my phone

I think you'd enjoy Misaeng @jinBhoot as it has a certain lovely obgyn in it being an also lovely salesman.

I’m enjoying Misaeng a lot. Thank you for the nudge and the glowing review Pol. I’m frustrated by the length of the episodes as I’m now itching to see the presentations in ep 4.

PS: I have installed Netflix on my phone

You are now officially a lost cause and firmly addicted. Welcome to the rabbit hole.

The nice but ineffective psychiatrist from FMIYM is also in Misaeng, although he’s an absolute dick in it. There is a lot to enjoy.

It took me a while to spot the lovely obgyn from Hospital Playlist in Misaeng - he seems to have a penchant for dodgy hairdos.
Still hating the resource team, and am now thinking Kang Ha Neul is a goodie in disguise

PS: I have installed Netflix on my phone

You are now officially a lost cause and firmly addicted. Welcome to the rabbit hole

Have you subscribed to Viki yet? Then there is truly no going back.....

DH renewed my annual Viki subscription as one of my Christmas presents. 😁

Oh, I feel somewhat responsible for the low score of DDSSLLS as I gave it a minus! I'm still feeling betrayed and somewhat gaslighted about the whole show - I really need to get rid of my resentment in true Kdrama style
I think that Once Again was the show the best matched my mood of needing something that was good entertainment with minimal trauma and angst. Although, I did love all the beauty, angst, and trauma of IONTBO
One of my favourite short shows of 2020 is the Jdrama Cherry Magic, which can be seen on youtube, each episode was 20 minutes of pure pleasure for me

Thank you hellos for all the work on the spreadsheet.

How do I access this famous spread sheet?
Can I also contribute to the rating?

Although I think I'm right in saying he never removes his glasses there is some very nice Kang Ha Neul fan service in a later episode...

@fifilacklustre

Oh, I feel somewhat responsible for the low score of DDSSLLS as I gave it a minus! I'm still feeling betrayed and somewhat gaslighted about the whole show - I really need to get rid of my resentment in true Kdrama style I think that Once Again was the show the best matched my mood of needing something that was good entertainment with minimal trauma and angst. Although, I did love all the beauty, angst, and trauma of IONTBO One of my favourite short shows of 2020 is the Jdrama Cherry Magic, which can be seen on youtube, each episode was 20 minutes of pure pleasure for me

Thank you hellos for all the work on the spreadsheet.

Ohhh Fifi I love a good Jdrama! Will check that one out.

Jin - I’ve PMed you the link.

On ep. 2 of Run On. No idea what's going on, but I like it 😂

Hello I'm back again . I am still a novice at this compared to you lot, but I love reading all your comments. Can I ask again for your recommendations?

My ratings for what I've watched so far would be
Tunnel 5/5
Signal 5/5
My Holo Love 5/5
Tomorrow with you 4/5
Memories of Alhambra 5/5 (loved that one, but think I might be on my own there)
The Good Detective 4/5 - just finished lost its way in the middle I think, was almost 2 separate stories

Things I've tried and couldn't get on with
Voice and Stranger - too much violence against women in one of them - was that voice?
CLOY will give that another go
The Lies within - watched quite a few episodes, but just couldn't really care about any of the characters
I was thinking reply 1988 next perhaps? I believe someone said it was like 30 something which I did used to watch when I was 30 something myself a very long time ago
Or could anyone with similar taste suggest something?

Episode 8 of Misaeng when his little boy calls him & he’s sitting in a giant Lego box or something - just a lovely moment!🥰

@pagansophie from your list it looks like you’re not really into romcoms so how about Prison Playlist? Or Come & Hug Me? - don’t be fooled by the title, the romance is angsty with a serial killer plot

I'm half way through ep 2 of Misaeng and the stress is killing me 😫

The casual sexism in Misaeng is quite shocking, but not surprising given what I’ve read elsewhere about what feminists in South Korea are up against.

TheGirl it gets better, hang in there!

Forgot to say pagansophie that I really enjoyed Reply 1988 - I also loved 30 Something back in the day although it's not really like that - but opinion is divided on whether you should spoiler the ending or not