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…

@bettys, oh I don't see him as Woong! That is disappointing. Maybe he could be Wook 😬 Who would you like to see playing him? I could see Yoo Seung Ho as him.🙌

I wonder how they are going to show so the cells? Will they be played by actors? Who would be naughty cell? Or giant hunger cell? 😂

@Rowdythree I could see Jinyoung, Choi Woo Sik, Lee Jae Wook, Kim Jung Hyun or Woo Do Hwan as Woong (or Mr Lixian in a cdrama version) - they could all do geeky but attractive nerds - Ahn Bo Hyun is more suitable to play the boss or Hungry Cell

I don't know how they'll do the cells, suspect animation of some sort, but I hope they keep Naughty Cell with just his pants he is my favourite! Maybe Kim Seon Ho for the dimples if they were played by actors

Yoo Seung Ho is a good call, or maybe Yoo Ah In

If anyone else is interested in watching Fight for my Way, it is being removed from Netflix UK on June 30th! DOTS is going too. A few foreign dramas are on the list. I didn't realise they still did that, but I suppose the licenses must be expiring.

@sakura06 how do you find out what’s leaving Netflix?

[quote bettys]@sakura06 how do you find out what’s leaving Netflix?[/quote]
I was wondering the same thing, bettys.
I googled ‘which Korean dramas are being removed from Netflix’ but only European and American ones came up.

On the programme itself it says the date June 30th and then I googled 'Why is Fight for my Way leaving Netflix?' which brings up some articles. I must admit I'm worried some of my watch list will disappear! 😳 Programmes leaving have been on there for 2 years apparently.

www.whats-on-netflix.com/leaving-soon/movies-tv-shows-leaving-netflix-uk-in-june-2021/

[quote bettys]@sakura06 how do you find out what’s leaving Netflix?[/quote]
It shows on the top of the screen (while watching episode) also on the description of the program.
I can’t see these notifications on the phone, only on TV.

Just to confuse things further, sometimes it says dramas are going to leave and then they don't. Must be all about license renewal.

Netflix don't make it easy do they? I would have to go through my to watch list individually to check

Ooh I hope Fight for my way doesn't leave or comes back, I watched it ages ago, and it's one I've had in mind for a rewatch. Hopefully it won't go 🤞

I’m pleased we’ve got Viki as hopefully they’ll stay on there longer.

Talking of Viki we have watched 3 episodes of Mr Queen - utter, utter joy.
I’m looking forward to more hilarious scenes in the kitchen.
It’s a shame that’s not on Netflix as it deserves a bigger audience.
I must say K dramas take wit and originality to a whole new level.

Mr Queen is brilliant Andante enjoy!

@bettys, basically there is a whole list of people more suitable to be Woong than Ahn Bo Hyun 😂

I love naughty cell, always in his pants, always wanting Yumi to have sexy time 😂

rowdy I've also started reading Nevertheless ....downloading the Webtoon app has opened up a whole new stream of delights!

Finished MFEO - really loved it. So perfectly cast - even if shocked by credit revelation that Howi was played by twins (mirroring BGT scandal of a few years back). Daebak award for best animal actor is theirs I'd say.

Very satisfying end to MFEO and just the perfect length.

I'm not sure Howi was played by twins....I think one was stuffed

@bettys

Very satisfying end to MFEO and just the perfect length.

I'm not sure Howi was played by twins....I think one was stuffed

Yep MFEO was fab and definitely one I think I could watch again (and again!) I think there was one real Howi and a stuffed one - I thought the bit at the end of the episode that shows Howis day was one of my favourites

I'm so glad I kept bleating on about MFEO now and made you all watch it!! 😂

Good series, lovely ending ❤️

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

I'm so glad I kept bleating on about MFEO now and made you all watch it!! 😂

Good series, lovely ending ❤️

I’m starting to watch it tonight @FedUpWithBriiiiick, really looking forward to it after reading everyone’s comments

@Rowdythree if you start re-watching now, you will definitely see it all! I'm currently seething at DH who insists on watching the Euros instead! I'm completely obsessed!

Good to hear they sometimes renew the rights on Netflix! I'm definitely getting Viki but should clear some of the Netflix watch list first.

Is MFEO light and fluffy? I'm 10 episodes into Youth of May and it is absolutely brilliant, but also devastating. I'm currently reading a book about the Gwangju Uprising as well and it's just so sad!

@sakura06 I might try and watch it, I also started Queen for Seven Days which leaves Netflix on the 30th so I'm not sure I can fit it all in 😂

I'm sure Strong Girl Bong Soon left Netflix once but it came back again so hopefully the same thing will happen with some of the other dramas 🤞

It IS a stuffed Howi, silly me! Had to go back to check. Oh that's a relief - hound star quality undiluted.
Not exactly "light and fluffy" Rowdy funny and subversive but also dark and tear jerking in places. Usual crazy KDrama emotional hop really. But warm and 🐝

@FedUpWithBriiiiick thankyou for pushing it- it would've been a massive shame to miss it. @rowdythree I'd say maybe more heartwarming and funny than fluffy? There are some darker themes but it's not dark and things don't drag on- I'd say the first episode wasnt my favourite but I was hooked by the third or so- definitely worth keeping on going

Just finished tonights episode of DAYS- still enjoying it- especially how beautifully shot it is- the scene with elven team leader and his friend is just so well shot and the music really works too

@FedUpWithBriiiiick yes your recommendation for MFEO was spot on! That’s what’s so great about this thread, I’m not sure I would have watched it otherwise. The bit about Howi’s day was also one of my favourites Hydrogen

Queen For Seven Days is also on Viki, I thought it was good but a bit sad.

Loving Racket Boys Yolo Yolo Yo!!!