MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #29): The one where we celebrate our growing community, score the year’s dramas, thank Korean creatives and performers for another year’s happy distraction

[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, but we can point you in the right direction. We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when.

The previous thread is here but our lists below are cumulative so include 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. Writer/actor Simon Pegg referred to it fondly as “tonal chaos” - it’s part of kdrama’s charm. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance about suitability for younger viewers.

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)
Dali & the Cocky Prince (Viki)
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)
Yumi’s Cells (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)/Rain or Shine (Netflix)*
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)
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee (Viki)

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)*
Happiness* (Viki)
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)
To Fly with Me (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 & can be viewed without S1)

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

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!

Last night I dozed off watching
Jdrama but I can’t find it on Viki or Netflix, I am sure it was on Viki.
I don’t remember the name & I am 100% I watched two episodes, I wasn’t dreaming.

A part-timer joined a design company. Main designer hasn’t design anything in last 5years (seems like some trauma/accident).
I have search and still can’t find it 😭 it’s a new drama.

I am also tempted to re-watch Mysaeng, I guess week off from work is making me miss stress & tension 🤣.

@JinBhoot

Last night I dozed off watching Jdrama but I can’t find it on Viki or Netflix, I am sure it was on Viki. I don’t remember the name & I am 100% I watched two episodes, I wasn’t dreaming.

A part-timer joined a design company. Main designer hasn’t design anything in last 5years (seems like some trauma/accident).
I have search and still can’t find it 😭 it’s a new drama.

I am also tempted to re-watch Mysaeng, I guess week off from work is making me miss stress & tension 🤣.

Can't Run Away From Love? It's on Viki 😊

Anyone else finding they are able to fit in less kdrama than usual because of the school holidays? My solo viewing has basically stopped, I keep getting interrupted by my family and have sort of given up for now.

Yes, I have Musique! And my kids don't even go to school 🤣 it's just a different routine. I've just happily folded up the laundry so I could watch an episode of Dali

I’m grateful mine spend a fair amount of time sleeping or gaming. The evenings have been more compromised by family viewing though. 😄

I'm sure when mine are older they will avoid my company at all costs

Glad to know I'm not the only one! They've been at home a lot too because of the positive covid test.

In other news DH bought the children the BTS edition of Uno. At least it'll pass the time for me a bit more happily!

Thanks @FedUpWithBriiiiick that’s the one

I've finally finished Jirisan . I think I was the last one to finish so I'm ok to say, why could she walk again???? And also what a convenient landslide!!
But I have really enjoyed it, despite some ridiculous bits. The last 5 minutes of the sunrise had me grinning like an idiot ☺️❤️

That was my query Thegirl, there had been no mention of any rehabilitation or chances that she might walk again througout the series, then all of a sudden she can climb up a mountain again! The rest of the show was fully believable 😁 I really enjoyed the sunrise too, I'd love to climb a mountain and see the sun come up 😍

I've started Bulgasal: Immortal Souls on Netflix tonight. Anyone else watching? It has a high body count and veers quite close to horror (monsters in ye olden dayes) but it has some really beautiful scenes and has a very filmic quality. I'm hoping the modern day bit kicks in next episode though.

I pondered it Musique, but felt it a little too rip-off of Kingdom (one of my top 3 dramas).

I await your review!

I really dislike the Royal Preceptor in The Red Sleeve, but I’m supposed to so job well done everyone. 👏 The make-up of the murky cabal (vague) was unexpected. A rather refreshing twist on things. Well done again writers. 👏 Oh, and for your bounteous bath tub scene, we give thanks. 🙏👏👏👏

The cray-cray princess (king’s daughter) is good value and I love her zany hanbok colour combos. She’s the Zandra Rhodes of the palace.

Alternative Oppas Day 6, and we are sticking with the "mature gentleman for the discerning laydee" theme. This oppa turns up in everything, so it's no surprise he's turned up here: Yoo Jae-myung looking verr verr good.

Oh, I love him! He's such a good actor, and very handsome! Excellent choice Briiiiick

I am very here for your alternative oppa choices FedUp.
Enjoying the gossipy speculation as to who Dispatch will out as dating on New Year's Day as is their tradition. I'm hoping for Yoo Yong-Seok and Shin Hyun-Been but expecting it to involve singers I don't know.

Briiick I confess I only watched one episode of Kingdom (too violent for me but I thought the premise was great) so I can't really do a direct comparison. Bulgasal feels more like Goblin without the humour or moments of lightness which makes it sound terrible but I did enjoy it. It has some great monsters and like I said, is beautifully shot.

As for Yoo Jae-myung, he looks lovely in that photo and I'd wear that outfit to a New Year's Eve party myself. I was most impressed with how well he aged up in Itaewon Class, I couldn't believe it when I looked up his real date of birth.

I’m still lost in The Red Sleeve.

Potential spoilers

Hate, hate, hate the preceptor bloke. The Crown Prince’s lead guard is a rubbish body guard. The whole detail are useless in fact, as the prince was left totally unprotected at the temporary palace and could easily have succumbed during the fighting. I also cannot believe that something the size of the Globe theatre has gone unremarked in the middle of the palace complex. 🤦‍♀️

Interesting Musique! Maybe I've wrote it off too soon... I'll put it on my watch list.

I've just finished 2nd play through of WWWSK. DH caught some if it too and remarked on the shexsy bits being quite risqué for a K-drama 😁

DH thinks writer of The Silent Sea may be a Dr Who fan... Very strong plot similarities with Waters of Mars episode. Both enjoying it though.

I managed to binge four whole episodes of Silent Sea last night! It's v tense 😱
I've also just remembered to fill in my scores on the spread sheet.

@polkettle

DH thinks writer of The Silent Sea may be a Dr Who fan... Very strong plot similarities with Waters of Mars episode. Both enjoying it though.

DH said the same!!! Nerd husbands unite!

👊 FedUp
Only just noticed that lovely Kim Ji-Seok seems to have come out on Insta. Unless I'm misinterpreting. Hooray if that becomes possible for all our Oppa loving Oppas.

It definitely looks that way Pol! Hooray and good for him, let's hope this leads to more people feeling confident enough to come out 💗💗

Ah, that’s lovely. I really like him and I hope he’s happy. I have no idea how this kind of news is received in South Korea. There seem to be far fewer openly gay characters in films/TV and some openly homophobic attitudes. 😕