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…

I'm watching Run On atm, but I'm on a late shift tomorrow so I can fit in some morning drama watching so will catch up with Mr Queen then. Shin Hye Sun is doing a great job of pretending to be CJH 👌😁

I really enjoyed the latest Run On. I was pleased that Im Siwan gives off actual grown up vibes (even if he is a bit socially awkward) compared to Misaeng where he is such a "nerdy poppet" (polkettle 2021) 😍

With FL losing her rag in Run On, did anyone else feel they were either missing something or that something was lost in translation? So far as I can tell she was angry because he stayed out, he didn’t call or text and she stayed up very late waiting for him (so far so good). From the translation, it sounded like she knew he wasn’t with a woman, so not jealousy. Then it gets confusing. The talk about “walls” at the athletics track made me think she’s upset because she’s let her guard down and really likes him/feels vulnerable but he’s not letting his guard down, but it wasn’t entirely clear. I was quite confused by it and the strength of her reaction even though I was trying hard to follow. What have I missed? And why is he in such a rush to move out?

I keep feeling that I’ve missed a key conversation somewhere with Run On, I’m not sure if that’s the subtitling or script.

Still hugely enjoying True Beauty it is the perfect antidote to current events (although I hope they don't drag the misunderstandings out too long)
Very glad the teacher's eyebrows turned out ok, I was worried they were going to be comedy big fat black slugs.

Started Misaeng yesterday and have already watched two episodes.

Suddenly I miss hustle and bustle of busy office (I must lie down till feeling passes).

I like stories where underdog beat all the odds and rule the world. I am very curious about hiring of our main character. I hope story picks up soon.

I am please to see certain OBGNY .

@boatyardblues I agree I felt like something was missing- I'm not convinced on the subtitles particularly as it doesn't seem to say if their using different honorifics although I can hear some of them they don't flag up in the subtitles. One of the things I like on Viki is the cultural notes that help with subtext
I couldn't work out why he was so keen to move out- possibly it's because without the people it isn't "home"? Just from when he was talking about liking hearing people in the house?

@boatyardblues, re the lack of clarity with the translation, I felt this watching School 2013 on Viki, where during the last episode it felt like the subtitle writers had got bored and given up! There was one scene where an actor was talking for about 3 minutes and they wrote one short phrase in English! It meant I didn't really didn't understand the ending of the series, which is so annoying after you've dedicated 16+ hours to it.

I'm probably teaching you to suck eggs here, but... By googling the series I found that there are websites that describe what happens in each episode scene by scene and by reading some of those, I could piece together what I'd missed and it explained what had happened and why.

Caught up with Run On and still feel like I've missed an episode. I like its quirkiness but for a drama that features a translator it could be subbed better.

Just a couple of episodes of Misaeng to go and Mr Kang (Kang Ha Neul's boss) has soared to the top of the office oppa list with his serious I-like-this-woman look.

Grrrrr. DH signed up to Disney+. DS2 is watching all the Star Wars films in series order. Tonight’s is one of the crap ones with Jar Jar Binks, leaden dialogue and waaaaaay too much CGI. Only 20 mins to go. 😫 I’m desperate to watch Run On and see how things shake down at the cinema.

Caught up on true beauty and run on tonight- loving true beauty @bettyd agree I'm hoping they don't prolong it too much- I think the sister and the teacher are fab- in fact all the supporting characters are really well done and it's the perfect antidote to everything that's going on.
Run on I'm enjoying but I'm not sure why? I feel like things are happening but I couldn't tell you when or what it just sort of floats along!

Run On needs to start stepping up the pace, although when ML and FL finally get their act together I think it has potential to be quite full-on. They can both be stirred to high passion.

Afterthought: Im Siwan can come round to my place to clear up and do the laundry any time. Nothing sexier than a man who does the housework (so I don’t have to) IMO.

At the end of Misaeng Im Siwan is quite dashing & a bit cheeky and looks like a secret agent (as seen in the very beginning)
I'm not keen on his oversized clothes wardrobe in Run On

I commented to DH that his blue coat, matching trousers and poloneck in tonight’s episode of RunOn were far too bulky. He’s actually very slim and rather slight. It looked like that outfit was wearing him. However gaudy the balcony outfit was, it suited him (and showed him off) much better.

I am on ep8 of Misaeng. Binge watching is on full throttle.
Relationship of these 4 newbies is refreshing. My favourite one is Seok-yool, I wish I had that much energy, confidence & social skills to be friendly with everyone. His scenes in sales team 3 area are funny.

I don't remember who recommended it, ages ago now, but thank you for the recommendation of the film Little Forest on YouTube. I watched it this morning and it's so relaxing and just fit my need for some gentle escapism. Side effect of making me want to go garden, forage and cook! 😆

Side effect of making me want to go garden, forage and cook!

@gingerbiscuitandacuppatea coincidentally I have just been ordering a whole bunch of seeds for attempting korean dishes eg perilla, chives, onions, cabbages, peppers and the like!

Two episodes left of Before We Get Married and I feel slightly less ashamed of enjoying it as Dimples has not only ceased his very bad behaviour but turned into a bit of a feminist lambkin. It's like two different shows.

@polkettle yes as a drama it is saved by the learning curve the characters go on, well most of them! I started watching the weirdest variety show on Viki last night as it has Dimples (Jasper Liu) in - When We Write Love Story. I'm not sure if it was typical of the genre or just really the most awkward thing I've ever seen. Incomprehensible subs too, the title is a good example. But Dimples is adorable.

@fifilacklustre Thank you for recommending Cherry Magic it is really sweet so far!

@bettys that sounds like a really good idea. I grew spring onions last year which we used in egg rolls, hopefully be able to do a bit more this year.

I can see that my cultural study of Dimples Taiwan may need to continue further...

I've been rewatching Sec Kim for the nostalgia!!! (it was one of the very ffirst kdramas I watched and a prime candidate for getting many peachy boot kicks in my Youthful Kdrama Years! ) it's still questionable and cheesy and lovely!
Waiting for more Uncanny Counter and trying to bank up True Beautys!
Stalled at Start Up and might give Run On a go!

I thought I was going to do My Mister now but I seem to have fallen into a Proper CLOY Rewatch instead. Happy sigh

ahhhh CLOY is the sumptious of all ReWatches!