MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #24): where we ‘lean in’ to our obsession. Non-judgmental support served up with a side-order of kpop.

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. 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 Queen (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)*
Lovestruck in the City (Netflix)
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*
Run On (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)
To My Star [BL] (Viki)
True Beauty (Viki)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)

What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)
You Make Me Dance [BL] (Viki)


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)
Doom At Your Service (Viki) - still airing
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)*
Move to Heaven (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Navillera (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Once Again (Viki)
Stove League (Viki)/Hot Stove League (Netflix)

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
#Alive (Netflix)
Black (Netflix)*
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*

Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
Peninsula - film, Train to Busan sequel (Amazon Prime, iMovies)
Sisyphus (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 ‘You May Also Like’
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)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Some Day or One Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)
You Are My Hero (Viki, Chinese)*

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2020 (updated for thread #21)
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by/for thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1 - Mr Queen - 9.4 (5 votes)
2 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
5 - Once Again - 8.42 (6 Votes)

2019’s top scoring dramas:

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
🥾🍑 (boot, peach) = kick up the bum to go to bed



We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but explained or 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…

A weepy drama has its time and place. A good sob can be very cathartic

Oh absolutely! I just like to know in advance so I’m prepared 😂😂

Yes, there's nothing worse than an unexpected sad ending! When you're watching it, thinking 'it will get better next episode, everything will be okay in the end' and then it doesn't! 😭😭😭

I was in Soho yesterday and there was a massive, massive line outside a small shop. Guess what for? (Hint: K-drama fans trying out Korean street snacks they see in dramas)

The cheese corndogs were lovely!

Ooh! I need a trip to Soho.
I don't know if anyone else reads KFangurl reviews. They're massively long and I don't always 100% agree with her but always enjoy reading them after and often find she's pretty good at identifying good uns. Anyway really enjoying listening to this, also long, chat with her on Dramas over Flowers podcast open.spotify.com/episode/0BmtQKNmDe6JMTR87Cyaio?si=XRV1VrcURiC9cYwFW_ZBFw&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

I'm very envious of those that can just pop to Soho! There's a new Korean restaurant open up in Birmingham which I would like to visit soon! 😋

@KSeason where where where?? I can just pop up to Soho 😬 I really want to try a cheese corn dog
I have just been to the Korean supermarket & bought these 😂 The lady on the till told me to take them BEFORE I drink 🤣

Oops photo

Omg bettys! Let us know if they work!

Will do rowdy! Of course that means I will have to have a boozy night to thoroughly test them on oh no what a dilemma…..

@bettys It's called Bunsik and on Charing Cross Rd. Long lines but worth it!

There's also a new cosmetics store next door with loads of BTS branding. Really good face masks there too.

I think that must be where the KCC walk is going for those who score a spot 🤞

I wish I lived in London SNOT FAIR

Same Briiiiick ☹️

Yes the KCC tour said it would feature the new Korean area in Charing Cross Road - exciting!I guess a lot of the book shops have gone now.

Yes @bettys Bunsik and the new cosmetics store are where Henry Pordes bookshop used to be. There’s also Oseyo opposite which I would suspect is part of the tour as well.

@Rowdythree

I'm very envious of those that can just pop to Soho! There's a new Korean restaurant open up in Birmingham which I would like to visit soon! 😋

Is it Seoul Kitchen www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/new-barbecue-restaurant-replace-birmingham-19843835 I've been looking for reviews or articles about it but there's not very much out there... It's very close to me!!!! But want to see more write ups befoire i drag myself there!!! It's not in the best location!!! 😫

Yes that's the one! It's actually my Korean teachers friends restaurant, she has given it the thumbs up! I'll be going with my language class next month, but would like to go there beforehand too.

ooooo! I think i may have to check it out then... they don't seem to have a website......but will check it out soon!!!

The menu is online 👍

@Rowdythree I take it back about the area... it's not so bad... opposite the mailbox... just looked it up on google maps!!!... I'm very tempted to go for lunch!!!! 😂

Yeah, it's alright there isn't it! I used to like the Natural Bar and kitchen that was there beforehand! I'm quite looking forward to a trip to Birmingham now!

😂😂... It's very close to where I work and a couple of roads away it can be a little 😖... 😂😂😂... But by the mailbox... It's not so bad 😂😂

I’m on my 3rd attempt to finish ep 5 of Remember Me without nodding off (no commentary on the show, I’m knackered) and I wanted to state for the record that I am finding Park Yer Bum dull in this too. I have now seem him in at least 3 prominent roles and every single one of his performances bores me. He’s a very capable actor, but 🥱😴😴.

The only thing I liked Park Yer Bum in was Love in the Moonlight which was really good

I’ve not seen that Betty. Maybe I shoukd give him the benefit of doubt.

Well, I finished ep 5 🎉 but got cocky and started ep 6 and Zzzzzzzz on the sofa. 🤦‍♀️