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!

Welcome Pink!! A few of us are learning the language (not me - only picked up the essentials from watching dramas!). We also like k-pop, webtoons and, of course, food!

Ohhh the modern hanok in episode 14 of Monthly Magazine Home is DAEBAK!

Hi Pink ! 👋 Also hooked into You Are My Spring and (ironically) unhealthily obsessed with Hospital Playlist. Love to get to some language classes eventually.
You need Viki now though for some of the best ones 😉
Just finished Thai I need Romance on Netflix which was in the Slips Down Nicely Instantly Forgettable category. Enjoyed the random noun Thai approach to names. FL actress is actually called Pancake.

Welcome pinki! You are definitely amongst friends here. 😄 We love kdrama. A few of us are learning, though very variable in both diligence and ability. Please stick around - our thread philosophy is the more the merrier.

FedUp - I loved that modern hanok too. I posted a few pages back to ask for help finding the episode, then showed DH. It was so light, airy and yet private in a close-packed urban setting. The design was so clever. Just beautiful. Impossibly minimalist for me in practice because I also covet my precious things and artwork, but I would find a homestay or holiday in one very soothing.

Hi pinki 👋👋👋

Hi Pinki 👋

Hi Pinki welcome to our cosy corner of mumsnet! You're in the right place to talk all things Korean!

I'm studying Korean, but it's a long slow process, my aim is also to not need subtitles, but it's a very long term goal. 😂 I'm currently watching HP2 and Nethertheless from your list. What tasty snacks have you discovered?

Wotcha Pink !
Also watching YAMS & Nevertheless but have got sucked into webtoons recently. Every time I say I’m not going to start a new I spot one, read the first ep & am then hooked…kinda like kdrama! Have just discovered Midnight Poppyland, Make-up Remover and Omniscient Reader 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
Anyone seen The Flaming Heart in Viki? I have had a soft spot for Gong Jun since Word of Honor but it could be a sub par You Are My Hero
Loooking forward to DP & Hometown Cha Cha Cha coming soon to Netflix

Hi Pinki! I recently started Korean lessons with a tutor on Verbling, it's going well so far. And I've signed up for the Preston Uni course linked earlier in the thread. I decided if I am going to do it I should put some proper time in. Its been my dream to study a 'hard' language to a high level for years, I studied Japanese for a while years back but the thought of learning all those Chinese characters is just too daunting. Kdrama and binging episodes of Run BTS has been just the nudge I needed to actually start studying.

Currently watching Nevertheless, DAYS (slowly) and just started my roommate is a gumiho. And rewatching fave episodes of Strong girl when I feel a bit blue!

Hello @PinkiPhone & another enthusiastic HELLLLLOOOO because you are watching the best Kdrama EVER i.e Hospital Playlist 😁. I searched mumsnet to see if there is any discussion about HP and found these amazing ladies. I have also started Kdramas in 2nd lock down (Nov/Dec) & originally started with Netflix. I have now installed Viki app and watching free dramas (will NOT start another subscription, hopefully).

@FedUpWithBriiiiick Racket Boys is amazing, I wish there were more episodes. InSol is such a darling. In final episodes were they referring to characters (Dr Go & Loony) of the Prison Playbook?
I also want a spin-off series with Han Sol & Yun Dam, such a cute pair.

@bettys I am also looking forward to Hometown Cha Cha Cha not sure about DP yet as it will be serious & tearful to watch.

I am enjoying You are my Glory on YouTube, latest episodes are available on Dailymotion.
One Spring Night is on slow burner but I am enjoying the slow pace of normal/mundane life in Korea.

Hello @PinkiPhone... Welcome! 👍

I'm sooo behind on my dramas at the moment... Haven't got time or energy too watch new one... So rewatching CLOY... It's just soooo gooood!! 😍

@JinBhoot yes they were! I really laughed at that but. I loved all the 4th wall breaking and cameos in the show.

I've taken the plunge and bought Webtoon coins to read more Yumi! I was left on a very big cliff hanger and can't wait until tomorrow's installment!

@Rowdythree where are you up to with Yumi? I’m on Ep 197 am I near?
I’ve even taken to earning free coins as I am addicted to Fast Pass

Where's everyone up to on Yumi? I'm about episode 80. Did use a few coins today to see whether naughtysaurus got his way 😁 Love the first meeting pics from the drama they've released on Insta today

I'm on ep 223! I feel like I've just read what will become episode 13 of the drama, The one where it all starts to go a bit wrong 😬😬

You're not far behind me @bettys!

Oooo-er!!! I can take a guess then at what’s going to happen….
Just seen the meeting pics on IG. Ahn Bo Hyun looks better than i thought he would as Woong but I’m still not 100% convinced.
Love the cells animations (Hungry cell!!😂) although was disappointed not to spot Naughty Cell in his pants

The cell animations are so cute! 😍 I'm still not convinced about Ahn Bo Hyun 🤔 hopefully he'll win me over!

Itaewon Class ruined Ahn Bo Hyun for me.

Me too Boaty I can't see him as anything other than being a dick now, and Woong is not a dick!

Episode 209 here!!! I wonder what they will do differently in the plot of the show than the WEBTOON?

Thank you everyone for welcoming me here.

@polkettle I have registered with Viki, will have to wait for the kids to go back to school so I can enjoy uninterrupted binge watching!

@Bea I rewatch ones that I have enjoyed over and over, e.g. Let's Eat 2, Weightlifting fairy, Reply 1988 & 1994......

@LarryUnderwood Preston Uni course... I will look that up. I too rather learn the language properly and have been wondering if there's any point in maybe doing Topik. I'm using mainly Talk to me in Korean for grammar lessons.

@Rowdythree I have tried many snacks, including various brands of Tteokbokki, injeolmi, sweet potato and shrimp crisps. Also some soft drinks - grape, pear, strawberry, Sikye and Milkis. I've made my own hotteok and tried various ramyeons too. My family have recently been fed lots of gimbap, bulgogi, bibimbap, kalguksu, doenjang jiggle, jjajangmyeon, veggie pancakes etc. I turn to Maangchi recipes on Youtube/her book. Apparently I'm obsessed with Korean everything.

@JinBhoot Do you know what time the next HP episode gets released? Supposed to be today but I don't see it available yet!

I have found "The sound of your heart" so hilarious as a comedy series. I laughed until I cried and I have rewatched some episodes (helps on down days)

@PinkiPhone, episode is released on Netflix once it’s on air in Korea.
Depending on the length of the episode, it will appear between 4:30-5pm UK time.

Wow that’s lot of recipes, I enjoy watching recipes by Maangchi.

I finished One Spring Night last night.
After sleeping on it I've realised that it was a well crafted conclusion and the best outcome for FL. BUT .. if I'm being honest I wanted to see

• Psycho Dentist getting more punishment
• 2ML being suitably humiliated and showing his vulnerable side
• Much more of the cute son and how he wins over FL's Eomma and Appa

Yes, this is less subtle, but I think it's what I'm used to expecting with my previous dramas.

Very good though and kept me glued.

Onto the next ..✊