MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #25): We may not always agree (on shows, oppa preference, wonky fashion) but we are never disagreeable…

[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)
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)*
Mad For Each Other (Netflix)
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. 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!

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. I so want a fridge where you knock on the glazed door and the lights inside come on! (Ep 7 Monthly Magazine PPL, very effective!) Of course, our fridge is full of half jars of chutney, curry paste etc so it would highlight the fridge clutter, but still! I can aspire.

[quote polkettle]Registered for this. The trailer looks great
www.eventbrite.com/e/korean-film-nights-weekends-tickets-162662310349?aff=KCCUK[/quote]
I've just registered too! Thanks for sharing Pol

Another one who has never tried Spam 😬 My parents used to eat a lot of tinned meat products, but I never fancied them 😂

Surprisingly I haven't watched any Nevertheless yet!

Ep 7 of Monthly Magazine was lovely. I really like Jung So Min’s energy and she is fab in this, just like everything else I’ve seen her in. She is retreading similar themes and dynamics as in BTIMFL, but that’s really no bad thing. They are well matched as ML/FL and the supporting characters are fun. You just know the middle aged editors that bicker incessantly are going to end up together (and probably go at each other like horny tigers with all that rage/passion). It’s like a romcom where you can already see the end point, but the journey is the fun bit.

Ooh yes - thoroughly enjoyed first 3 episodes of MMH today. So many good current screeners on the go at the moment 🥰

@boatyardblues and @polkettle yeah I love MMH at the moment- it's like the opposite of you are my spring in that you can see the way it's going from miles away but it's just fun- the two leads go well together and all the supporting characters are great too- it is really warm as well of that makes sense?
Up to episode 11 on IQYI and so far it's still really good, i think the episode where she compliments him and then it keeps replaying is one of my favourite bits so far

Just saw the Arena shoot YYS has done. Good grief! Definitely different to the Spam photos as you pointed out pol!

AAAARGH!!!! I so want to slap 2ML's smarmy face in Be Loved In House !

The story is torturously slow too JUST TELL EACH OTHER YOU LIKE THEM!!!

It was a poor episode Bettys. Not a single new bed/floor/wall fall 😞

Agree pol 🙇🏻‍♀️

By the way thanks for the link to the film I have also registered 👍

HUZZAHHHH!!!! for UK Army! Almost crashed the car when i heard this announced on Radio 1!!! 💜💜💜😅😆😅😆😲😲😲😲

Just way too excited!!! Not only a Live Lounge but a 30 min prog too!!!! Squeeeelllllllll! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/bbc-one-bts-special

Well it's all your fault for putting up pictures of Jonny H but I have started My Dear Guardian but I am really disappointed 😕

It is a mishmash of all the good scenes from DOTS and YAMH but with none of the warmth, humour and bromance we enjoyed. JH is usually so lovely but the ML isn't tsundere he is just a rude arse with a terrible haircut and it is only 5 episodes in that he is warming up, there is also absolutely no chemistry between the leads 😡😡😡

Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Just came here to scream like a teenager about R1 program and Live Lounge BTS news!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Obvs Bea got there first!!! 😁😁😁

@Cassini I know I fast forwarded through most of it, I thought at least there would be fit soldier scenes but it’s like propaganda for the Chinese Army 😖

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Just came here to scream like a teenager about R1 program and Live Lounge BTS news!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Obvs Bea got there first!!! 😁😁😁

I'm way too excited!!!... Dynamite.. PTD and cover of "I'll Be Missing You" - Puff Daddy and Faith Evans...!!!!

It shows you that a drama hasn't quite hit the mark when you are rooting for the psychopathic, terrorist killer as he at least has some chemistry with the FL 🤣🤣🤣

@Cassini

It shows you that a drama hasn't quite hit the mark when you are rooting for the psychopathic, terrorist killer as he at least has some chemistry with the FL 🤣🤣🤣

Yep, never a good sign. 😂

At the risk of repeating myself, I love Monthly Magazine. Episode 8 was wonderful.

@Cassini

It shows you that a drama hasn't quite hit the mark when you are rooting for the psychopathic, terrorist killer as he at least has some chemistry with the FL 🤣🤣🤣

I feel like rooting for psychopathic killer is probably not a great sign in most dramas 😁 @boatyardblues I've started rewatching it, it's perfect for all this hot weather - no need to think too hard

Just spotted some insidious sofa PPL - same leather sofa in FL’s apartment in ep 2 of You are my Spring as purchased for ML’s apartment in ep 8 of Monthly Magazine. It’s not working on me though. I thought it was fugly the first time and a second exposure has only hardened my opinion.

Park Morgan played a hit man in Kill It, I was rooting for him. Does that class as a serial killer? He also saved animals so I feel it balanced out 😂

Who mentioned the PPL fridge with a see through door that lights up when you knock? Instagram just showed me an advert of it!!

Omo Girl! What brand is it? Asking for a friend. 😉

www.lg.com/uk/lg-magazine/what-is-new/knock-twice-see-inside-the-all-new-lg-instaview-door-in-door

Thanks Girl, love a bit of fridge porn. It’s the tidiness of that fridge that gets me too. Like minimalist homes, it is a pipe dream for our household. 😂

Is everyone out enjoying the sunshine this week, or too heat fatigued to type on their phones? We were away with less capacious wifi on tap. DS1 told me off for streaming kdrama because I’d “stolen all the internet”. The signal also didn’t reach many of the comfy flop spots so there was a battle for the one well situated sofa. It took DS2 ages to watch each episode of his show in the main sitting room because he lost his firestick signal every time one of us started streaming nearer to the router. 😂

It’s been a busy week here, plus have been reading a lot of manwha
Just about to head in to Kingdom 🧟‍♀️