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!

SE-HOON YOU ABSOLUTE PLONKER.
(Singles Inferno)

@Bea I couldn’t stop thinking about the carp bread.
So I ate store bought glazed waffles, I am guessing taste or texture will be mildly close to real thing.

I was this close to ordering the gadget but it will just gather the dust.

For now waffles has curbed the craving.

I am watching Busan episode of The Hungry & The Hairy and want to try the red bean dessert. I am very intrigued, I have no idea how it will taste. Is any shop in London/Birmingham/Manchester selling Korean desserts?

also JI-A YOU MINX.

You can buy red bean filled pancakes in frozen section of Korean supermarket Jin and they are yum.

I started rewatching Doom At Your Service. It’s not too soon and I’m enjoying it more on second view. Seo In Guk and Park Bo Young are so good sparking off each other. I’d also forgotten about the Elven King suave team leader.

Those noodles do look v spicy boaty 🥵
I've just finished ep 4 of The Red Sleeve and I've just been back over the thread to read everyone's comments. Definitely agree The Royal Preceptor is horrible! It's taken till now for FL to realise, even though he said he'd have let more palace maids be eaten by the tiger before he did anything 🤬

I think I might have a fish bread mold somewhere. DH got me one ages ago but all our attempts failed.

Food talk, my favourite topic!
Boaty those noodles are savage, DH who is chilli immune normally had some once and he screamed after the third bite so I had to try of course 🥵
Where can you get the fish shape pan?? That would be a fab gift for DD,s

I'm continuing with My beloved summer although it's pace is getting somewhat slower.

Looking forward to last 2 episodes of singles inferno today!

Bea our Dyson cordless is on its last leg, I think the Xmas tree needles finally beat it. Lasted 5 yrs so considering getting a newer model although we now have a rubber broom which is a game changer, especially for dog and my hair. Cheap as chips too!

I'm interested in the rubber broom Aesops! We have an upright Shark, but it's a pain to keep getting it out.

@Rowdythree

I'm interested in the rubber broom Aesops! We have an upright Shark, but it's a pain to keep getting it out.

Me too. Can you use it on carpets or only on hard flooring?

It's perfect for all floor types , this is the one I have. Game changer.

Well I've taken the plunge and ordered one. I'm willing to try anything to help with the amount of hair in our house!

Given the weather and the January it's a bacon sandwich and last two episodes of Singles Inferno in my PJs morning.

Let me know what you think Rowdy

Pol your morning sounds perfect!

crying at how uncomfortable the hot tub looks when you get there Aesops 😂

I took DS1 to my usual early morning swim slot. We are now warming up with coffee. I need to go out-out to the shops today but the rain is pouring down and it’s gloomy enough to be dusk. I may have used up all of today’s get up and go on my swim. The sofa and my watch list beckon.

I just watched the opening credits to Singles Inferno and immediately grasped why you are all watching. It’s a shower scene reel with added intrigue and spite.

I love how all the initial sizing up of the competitors is impeded by their culturally ingrained need to bow and be so respectful to one another.

It's SO ENJOYABLE Boaty. I'm having to abandon the last 45 minutes to take a wretched child somewhere and I'm spitting. You may not have ever been sucked into the murky waters of Love Island but this has all the gripping psychological twists of that but with none of the slow bits or the ick bits (the " doing bits" in fact...). Plus in the Paradise hotel they order crazy meals just like they do in the real dramas where they have five main courses and take 3 bites of each. Grinning like a loon throughout and genuinely invested in the sweetness too.

Kang Se-Yeon (black dress) looks terrifying in her intro. She’d eat the first guy out for breakfast.

Sorry, that came out all wrong. 😮 Eat him for breakfast. I should pause while messaging.

The women are all stunning.

Boaty! 👀🤣 Just looking up the filming location and it seems the "Paradise" hotel is basically at Incheon airport.

@AesopsMables

Food talk, my favourite topic! Boaty those noodles are savage, DH who is chilli immune normally had some once and he screamed after the third bite so I had to try of course 🥵 Where can you get the fish shape pan?? That would be a fab gift for DD,s

I'm continuing with My beloved summer although it's pace is getting somewhat slower.

Looking forward to last 2 episodes of singles inferno today!

Bea our Dyson cordless is on its last leg, I think the Xmas tree needles finally beat it. Lasted 5 yrs so considering getting a newer model although we now have a rubber broom which is a game changer, especially for dog and my hair. Cheap as chips too!

www.amazon.co.uk/CookKing-Taiyaki-Japanese-Fish-Shaped-Pancake/dp/B06XS5RPQS/ref=asc_df_B06XS5RPQS/?hvlocphy=9045538&hvlocphy=9045538&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvnetw=g&hvadid=394304752447&hvadid=394304752447&hvpone&hvpone&hvlocint&hvlocint&ref&hvpos&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-393480760276&hvtargid=pla-393480760276&hvrand=12733716833211226064&hvrand=12733716833211226064&adgrpid=81584087946 fish shaped bread cuteness overload! 👍👍

Still deliberating hoover! Though rubber broom sounds good! 👍👍👍😍

I got a Eufy robo vac (thanks MN). I love him. His name is Jeff.

Just finished singles inferno. Recommend 👍🏽

My heart went out to Moon Se-Hoon from day 1. Such a lovely guy.