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!

I did do very well in dragging someone who lives ten doors or so away from me down the rabbit hole. Not least useful for alternating mandu, jeon and makgeolli shopping duties. We flash finger hearts at each other from opposite sides of the road.

Been thinking about this real life business. Who would potentially be up for meeting up in London in October 2022 (all being well) to go to the Hallyu exhibition in the V&A, followed by some ?

Oh god, Rowdy you should have saved that photo for Christmas day! Hyung-sik is my absolute favourite actor and that is a lovely picture. I asked for recommendations from the 14 year old I know and he struggled to think of age appropriate ones but he did come up with some already mentioned, Pokemon, Dragonball Z, Yu-gi-oh and there was another but I've forgotten. I'll let you know tomorrow. I loved reading Ranma 1/2 and Urusei Yatsura by Rumiko Takahashi in my early twenties but I think that they would be more 12+.

I'm not sure where to start with Happiness but I feel pleased with how it played out. I think Sae-bom made some excellent choices and was overall a truly feminist FL. She didn't turn all drippy, remained strong despite intolerable pressure and always followed her sense of right and wrong. I loved the bit at the end about the good cop and bad cop roles. I hope this isn't spoiling anything! As for PHS, he's put on a million followers on instagram over the course of the show so if that is any sort of barometer of quality I think he's done pretty brilliantly.

Pol I think the documentary is so professionally made by Martha. It could be broadcast on Radio 4 tomorrow in the 11am slot. Plus you have my favourite female name. My children stymied my desire to give them that name by both being male, which I felt was rather inconsiderate of them.

As for the list (my first contributions, I am very excited) I agree that Would You Like A Cup of Coffee, it was quite special and rather different to the usual offering. I still have one episode to go on that one.

I'd also add Yumi's Cells and put it in two categories, romance and mad as a box of frogs. I can't quite get the Naughtysaurus out of my head somehow.

I think Our Beloved Summer is shaping up quite well but I don't know the policy on including a currently-airing drama.

Anyway, I'm off to watch the above and Guardian/Goblin which DH and I have started watching in order the fill the supernatural void. I need some escapism after a rubbish day at work.

Oh god, Rowdy you should have saved that photo for Christmas day! Hyung-sik is my absolute favourite actor and that is a lovely picture.

Musique When I was choosing the picture this morning, I thought he really is a beautiful man. There were many gorgeous pictures to choose from. On the other hand it was quite difficult to find a good picture of Lee Byung Hun, there were quite a lot of him not looking that great 😬😆 I hope you like tomorrow's picture too 🥰

Briiiiick I would be up for that! Definitely 🍶

Sticks hand up Brick!
Thanks Musique! I like my name too. My friend with synaesthesia says it is a round yellow lollipop which is a LOT better than some of the associations she has for other names.
Finished Happiness with happiness - a few logical conundrums if one is in the mood to quibble but basically very satisfactory. Would totally cosplay as mad in green dress building rep lady next Halloween.

Who would potentially be up for meeting up in London in October 2022 (all being well) to go to the Hallyu exhibition in the V&A, followed by some ?

👍 👌

Who would potentially be up for meeting up in London in October 2022 (all being well) to go to the Hallyu exhibition in the V&A, followed by some ?

Me!!! If I can get a not too expensive train ticket.

Briiiick I'm in! Sounds like an excellent plan.

Pol I agree with your friend, it is a yellow, happy sort of name. If you are being building rep next Hallowe'en, I'll be supermarket girl in her green tabard. Sae-bom looked great in the army gear at the end, and I've never seen anyone pull off jogging bottoms with such insouciance as she managed.

Rowdy I think I like him best with long hair in Hwarang, even V from BTS was saying how handsome he was with long hair!

DH has gone to bed early so I've finally finished Would You Like... which was just understatedly lovely as ever. Now giving the Hungry and the Hairy a go as a contrast.

Oppa advent day fourteen

Time for some long haired lovelies from Hwarang!

@Rowdythree

Oppa advent day fourteen

Time for some long haired lovelies from Hwarang!

My ovaries can't take it!!!

Hmmm season 2 of D.P. announced. I thought it ended pretty perfectly (and brutally). Where can it go?

Lovely Rowdy 😍
I agree Fed Up not sure why DP needs a second series?

Just seen this pic on twitter. I think this person has taken the cardboard Oppa further than us 😂

Trying to work out if the groom is actually real 😂
I'm liking the escalating Oppa numbers.
Today will feature a lot of me and DH bellowing 'Realise!' at each other from Happiness OST. Both bang into that track and a pretty easy karaoke option for once.

[quote polkettle]What an absolute minx.

The daughter of a friend is doing an MA in audio production and had to make 10 minute documentary so she came and interviewed me about KDrama. It's a sweet (and very professional!) piece she made.
m.soundcloud.com/user-310391270/korean-drama-queen[/quote]
I just listened to this, It was wonderful! I want to hear more too, it's there an extended version available? I wanted to join in the conversation too! Well Martha and Pol 😃

Thegirl 😂, that's so funny! They've raised the bar pretty high for cardboard oppa antics!

I probably talked at her solidly for about 4 hours Rowdy I was SO happy to have a captive audience 🤣😂 She did talk about wanting to make a longer version but may have moved on now.

I wonder if party & wedding planners in Korea have selection of cardboard oppas along with other decorative items.

Kings Affection! Great last two eps! Deffo made up for the saggy Laggy middle!
Great great ending! Last scene was... 😊😊😊😊😍... Along with Hwrang it has my fave ending scene! 😊👍☺️

I’m watching ep 19. For a few minutes I thought someone had left the bubblewrap on the Queen Mother’s snacking table when they got it out of the props store, but it’s some confusing mother of pearl effect veneer. 😂

Terrific last episode! Lots more nail biting than I bargained for and some genuinely unexpected turns.

It was quite thrilling!! I was very 😳😱😱at some of it!... Should have been 16 eps!! 20 was too long! Good job last two eps were so good!! 👍😁

www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/14/bts-taught-me-that-i-am-worthy-readers-on-why-they-love-the-k-pop-superstars?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1 good read for ARMY! 💜💜💜😍

I have now finished it. I agree - sticking to the standard 16 episodes would have dealt with the soggy middle. A very satisfactory ending all round. 👏

Rowdy you are truly spoiling us with that picture. How gloriously hirsute.

Thegirl I like that diorama! It reminds me of the gift shop item that Cindy developed in Her Private Life, the tiny cardboard Shi-An and his little art collection.

I keep remembering good bits from Happiness. The lift scene with our two leads and the infected was great. And just how brilliant were the supporting cast? I think awful doctor man and awful building rep will stay with me for a long time.

Just watched ep 3 of Our Beloved Summer and I liked it. Fairly undemanding but charming all the same. I wonder why she dumped him?

I might watch the The King's Affection one day, good to know it ends on a high.