MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #28): The Lord gives and He takes away. Lee Jong Suk & Park Hyung Sik return from the army; Seo Kang Joon departs.

[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. 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 Name (Netflix)
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/Netflix)*
Mr Queen (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)*
The King’s Affection (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)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Viki)*
Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Lovestruck in the City (Netflix)
Monthly Magazine Home (Viki)
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)/Couple on the Backtrack (Netflix)
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, Netflix)*

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)*
Hospital Playlist 2 (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)
Racket Boys (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)
Ashin of the North (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/Netflix)


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)*

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID aka “the shit list” 💩

Melting Me Softly
The Birth of a Beauty
Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine)

Thread Regulars’ Top Scoring Dramas of 2020
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). 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!

Here's a behind the scenes shot of me trying not to let him go flying!!!

Love it TheGirl!

Haha! You should put that photo on Instagram @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap 😂 It's like you're making S2 of CLOY!

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Here's a behind the scenes shot of me trying not to let him go flying!!!

Love it! Cardboard Oppa's clearly aren't made for going out in storms 😂

@Rowdythree

Any recommendations for a C drama? I've only watched You are my Hero. Which I enjoyed, so something similar in style. I fancy a change of scenery from K drama for a while. Looks like I've got the covid so will have plenty of time to watch stuff over the next 10 days!

Sending you best wishes @Rowdythree.

Cdrama You are my Glory & if interested in fantasy genre Legend of Fuyao

Started watching happiness and up to episode 3- it's good but I find it a bit scary in a psychological creeping dread of how bad things might get way - I hope cute kid is ok
I agree PHS is looking good post military discharge and I like the relationship between the two leads
Started jirisan as well but I was expecting more mountain rescue and less woo? Maybe I'll get into it?
Loving the photo of Bin in the snow!

Im loving Bin goes to Peak District.

Hydrogensonata we’re on episode 4 of Jirisan and we are enjoying it. It’s different to any k drama that we’ve watched and the mountain and forest scenery is beautiful.

There’s been quite a lot of hype for ‘One Ordinary Day’ - I’m not sure about Kim Soo Hyun’s big hair (though I realise that’s not the point).

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Here's a behind the scenes shot of me trying not to let him go flying!!!

Brilliant!!!

I now get the Once Again love. Da-Hee just did her turn as fake girlfriend to sort out the persistent gallery woman. It was adorable. I think the mother has been awful to Na-Hee, especially after the tearful outpouring. I actually dislike the mother now because of it & would have preferred it if Na-Hee had stuck to her guns and got in that taxi.

I also love snowy Bin. Top work TheGirl!

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Here's a behind the scenes shot of me trying not to let him go flying!!!

This is brilliant, just checked Insta. Looking forward to more adventures. Shall we start CLOY2 rumours 😆

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap I love the photos, Bin definitely needs a scarf to keep him cosy though!

Rowdy, I hope the test is negative...but in the meantime enjoy all that screentime. There has to be some compensation, right?!

We just watched ep 7 of Happiness and DH told me to sit down, I was apparently pacing around too much in response to the psychological stress the events in the show were putting me under. PHS rescuing Han Hyo-joo was just fantastic. I watched an Elle interview with them both, PHS seems to know way too much about HHJ...

I've been meaning to ask this question - what do you all think is the optimum number of dramas to watch concurrently? I'm on six (although we have nearly finished Her Private Life) but there are so many I want to watch. I just worry i will get them all mixed up.

I've been meaning to ask this question - what do you all think is the optimum number of dramas to watch concurrently?

The optimum number is the number you can keep separate in your head IMO, so there is no maximum but I only ever have one sageuk on the go at once. As detailed upthread I struggle to tell all the wispy-bearded be-hanbokked courtiers apart as it is! 😂

Thanks for the good wishes folks!

The optimum number is the number you can keep separate in your head IMO, so there is no maximum but I only ever have one sageuk on the go at once. As detailed upthread I struggle to tell all the wispy-bearded be-hanbokked courtiers apart as it is! 😂

I'd agree with this I currently have 10 k dramas on the go, and as of today a Chinese and Norwegian! Only one of those is Saeguk though! For the same reasons as Boaty 😂

We couldn't watch ep8 of Happiness tonight as I'm in quarantine. But we did do synchronised viewing of Hellbound, only one episode left of that!

Oh Rowdy! I hadn’t appreciated that you are separated from your DH by current isolation. That sucks. Especially the Happiness part.

Thanks for the advice Boaty. I know what you mean about sageuk dramas being hard to separate, especially when the sets are the same and they literally all wear the same clothes. I would quite like to create a sort of evil wispy beard courtier/politician death match - stick 'em all in the same sageuk and see who comes out on top.

Rowdy, being separated from your DH must be no fun at all, keeping my fingers crossed for a negative test for you.

In other news I see PHS has a new drama, I'm delighted his career is going so well after military service. I'm not that keen on his co-star (Han So hee) as I wasn't particularly sold on her acting in Nevertheless but I will keep an open mind.

www.soompi.com/article/1501000wpp/park-hyung-sik-and-han-so-hee-confirmed-to-star-in-new-romance-drama-by-vincenzo-director

Excellent work with SnowBin TheGirl!!! Where would he have pitched up if he’d flown off ?🤔

Hope your situation improves soon rowdy and in the meantime enjoy the cdrama. Can’t remember if you have iQ but Love Is Sweet is one of my favourites and agree with all the other recs

I am deeply drawn in by Once Again... it is great fun... thank god it hasn't got the over shrieking and hamminess of Young Lady...I have to admit to skipping here and there but i do like it... all characters are lovely in their own way so apart from the dodgy lighting and the bad sets... I'm really enjoying it... it;s a great no brainer and soapy as soapy can be!!!

Meanwhile I've been wallowing in self pity as my timeline on twitter is flooded with fancams and tweets about BTS's last two day LIVE concerts in LA... soooo jealous but so pleased they finally got to perform in front of Live ARMYS and excited and pleased for all those ARMYS who were lucky enough to get tickets...

Same Bea I've got to leave to go to work in a minute but I just want to stay here and look at all the videos!!!! They are so good!!! I'm so pleased for everyone there (trying not to be jealous 😬)

Rowdy hope you feel better soon and are reunited with yeobbo

We're only separated by a door😁 I'm just isolating in the bedroom, so fingers crossed it doesn't get passed on.

I have been enjoying the ice skating drama, it requires very little energy to watch!

"it requires very little energy to watch!"

That is the Way of the CDrama 😌
Feeling very cosy with IGTYWTWIN but unconvinced that roasting tangerines is a good idea.

We've just finished watching Hellbound which was both 😱 and 😢. I'm quite glad it was only 6 episodes, but it looks like there will be a second series.

I was watching The King’s Affection earlier thinking it’s ripe for slash fiction. A Japanese production team could have had a lot of fun with this concept. I’m torn between thinking the Korean restraint is making the scenario way hotter vs totally frustrating. Poor Scholar Jung must be about to combust with all that repressed desire burning in his breast.

I thought the end of the episode implied...um... that maybe the "Affection" defcon had been escalated Boaty and Jung may have slept well that night.