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…

Today's BTS run is all about making kimchi! 👍😂😂... Complete with recipes and method! 🥰👍😂😂

He would be pleased to know all his UK and Ireland noonas are behind him!

@Bea

Today's BTS run is all about making kimchi! 👍😂😂... Complete with recipes and method! 🥰👍😂😂

Oh yes! Looking forward to that

Reporting back on last nights boaty shuffle, May-December Couple was so-so but then landed on Ugly Beauty which I’m rather enjoying.

Sister takes on her twin siblings actress life and paparazzi ML gets a job as her assistant to find out truth about a tragic event. It veers towards the kdrama end of the scale, as there are slightly (for cdrama) darker undertones to the plot.

Enjoying Mad for Each Other - thanks for the 👍 FedUp

@polkettle

Enjoying Mad for Each Other - thanks for the 👍 FedUp

I would go so far as to say it's one for the ⬆️ list

I am so bored and only Hospital Playlist will cheer me up. Ting ting tiiing < can’t wait to hear theme tune, it makes ear to ear smile 😁
DH is away on Thursday, it will be uninterrupted watch eeeeeeeeciting.

In boredom I have started to watch Good Manager, it’s ok.

Enjoyed watching Hot Stove league, no romance in it though. I want to have a foresight & negotiation skills like club’s GM. If I knew the game, I would have enjoyed it even more.

Hey! Sorry I disappeared a few threads ago, I’m finally back working again (self employed) and getting back in a routine...

I’m struggling to find anything romantic and fluffy to watch, have started So I married an anti-fan which is good, and will give Mad for each other a go.

Tbh, I’m still mourning for Mr Queen!

@bettys rowdythree Op-paaaaaaa! and PSJ's face I just got this this bit. Hilarious! 🤣🤣

Howdy madamecake - it’s lovely to have you back!

I’m frustrated by the slow subbing on today’s DAYS.

@madamecake

Hey! Sorry I disappeared a few threads ago, I’m finally back working again (self employed) and getting back in a routine...

I’m struggling to find anything romantic and fluffy to watch, have started So I married an anti-fan which is good, and will give Mad for each other a go.

Tbh, I’m still mourning for Mr Queen!

You are my hero - fluffy Vincenzo- it was good & engaging, little bit of romance Lovestruck in city: it’s different (marmite drama)

In old ones, Romance is a bonus book, W- two worlds, Because this is my first life

Just catching up on the thread, Boaty I hope things start looking better for you soon! 화팅!

I've also gone off DAYS a bit, it's all a bit hopeless! I hope they come up with a plan so that it will be a happy ending soon! Even Seo In Guk isn't making me want to watch this week's episodes!

I've abandoned all my other drama's to binge Kill Me Heal Me I need to catch up on the others otherwise I'll have forgotten what's going on 😬

@madamecake Chicago Typewriter

@madamecake good to see you back! We're always here....

Have you watched all the romantic fluffy suggestions at the head of the thread? New ones out you might enjoy are My Roomate Is A Gumiho and I am currently watching Ugly Beauty which is so far ok (both Viki)

Thanks all, yes, watched most of the ones on the list but I’m giving My roommate is a Gumiho a go tonight @bettys!

Have you seen True Beauty @madamecake? I was also going to suggest Lovestruck, I enjoyed the beach scenes.

I am also going off DAYS a bit. The only thing that will excite me now if they show some post-death philosophical discussion scenes. If no one dies I will be disappointed.

@KSeason

Have you seen True Beauty *@madamecake*? I was also going to suggest Lovestruck, I enjoyed the beach scenes.

I am also going off DAYS a bit. The only thing that will excite me now if they show some post-death philosophical discussion scenes. If no one dies I will be disappointed.

Loved True Beauty @KSeason, think I preferred it to the Webtoon which is just going on and on and on with no end in sight!

I’ll try Lovestruck too

The first episode of My roommate is a Gumiho is starting off well, looks promising

Hi madamcake you're right, the True Beauty Webtoon is ready dragging on now! I can recommend one called Yumi's Cells which I love, and is currently being made into a drama 👍

@Rowdythree I have just hooted with laughter at this pic from Yumi’s Cells it is genius! Thanks for the recommendation 😂

That pic won’t make sense out of context…..but it is such a funny webtoon. Looking forward to it airing in September

Have binged through almost all available episodes of MFEO Fedup Should totally go on the list. Love the growth from both leads (and the dog!). One of those dramas that suggests it's going to be one thing and then becomes something much warmer and subtler.

@bettys I'm using Manta for web comics at the mo, but all a bit samey. What platform are you using?

@polkettle

Have binged through almost all available episodes of MFEO Fedup Should totally go on the list. Love the growth from both leads (and the dog!). One of those dramas that suggests it's going to be one thing and then becomes something much warmer and subtler.

Totally agree! It's a proper sleeper hit. And I now have a massive crush on Jung Woo 😁

FedUp I found it on webtoons.com and have just spent the last hour guzzling it up!

Am also getting FOMO about MFEO so need to catch up with you guys on that 😬

I was already pretty mmmmmmm about Jung Woo coming from the bare chest action of Reply 94. His voice is vair vair noice too.