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!

I don’t know if it’s just because of the area we live in but mirin and sesame seeds are both really easy to come by in Tescos, Sainsburys and a whole host of local shops. It makes culinary experimentation so much easier. I thank my lucky stars every day. If you find sesame seeds tricky & have a friendly bakery nearby, they might sell you some as most will have them in for decorating loaves.

Maybe you had one of those rare 30 hour days Boaty?!

I reckon it was the warly morning swim that swung it. I was up & out early, no wasting a morning watching kdrama in my PJs.

Will do Jinbhoot!

We have a pretty good SE Asian grocery shop in our town (I was delighted when it opened a couple of years ago) but as they stock ingredients from all over that region there isn't that much room for korean stuff. It was also really crowded so I wasn't able to browse in as leisurely a fashion as I wanted. I'll go back midweek when it's quieter.

Now for some Red Sleeve!
Can we have a 'Least Realistic CGI Tiger" category in the upcoming awards? I'm sure I can think of at least three unconvincing tigers...

I've started watching Single's Inferno too. I think I love it 😆

@sakura06

I've started watching Single's Inferno too. I think I love it 😆

DH was very judgy about my recent foray into Korean reality TV. Like waaaaay judgy. He said “you don’t even watch Love Island”, to which I pointed out that I watched it with my SIL and enjoyed it but found the inclusion of sexy times footage voyeuristic. I felt this cleaner Korean version retained all the fun stuff without the ickiness of the accidentally seeing your neighbours get it on in their garden vibe.

DAYS rewatch is delivering the goods in spades. 👍

DH was very judgy about my recent foray into Korean reality TV. Like waaaaay judgy. He said “you don’t even watch Love Island”, to which I pointed out that I watched it with my SIL and enjoyed it but found the inclusion of sexy times footage voyeuristic. I felt this cleaner Korean version retained all the fun stuff without the ickiness of the accidentally seeing your neighbours get it on in their garden vibe.

Same here, DH and DD's were "disappointed" in me. Especially when I get judgemental about all the crass stuff on other reality shows that we don't watch. DD1 watched it and gave it a thumbs up !
I'm near the end of YAMD and will finish it tonight.

Can we have a 'Least Realistic CGI Tiger" category in the upcoming awards? I'm sure I can think of at least three unconvincing tigers...

Too right Musique 😂 The Silent Sea and Lovers of the Red Sky also on the nomination list. I'm sure there was a CDrama one too...

I am NOT AT HOME to viewing choices judginess and would get my waggy finger out if anyone tried it on me at home. Watching Love Island with teens does involve a certain amount of hiding behind cushions but also some brilliant discussion on the psychology and pathos of it all. Not to mention how much time it takes out of your day to look like that and honestly who cba. Wholesome family time 😉

Just spotted a thread in Telly Addicts called "The Silent Sea - Netflix" @boatyardblues potential new chingu? There's a poster who ❤️ Gong Yoo 😁

Go round ‘em up & bring ‘em home FedUp! 😄 You know the drill - a friendly PM or post with a link to the thread…

@boatyardblues

Go round ‘em up & bring ‘em home FedUp! 😄 You know the drill - a friendly PM or post with a link to the thread…

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!

I did it! Ohhh I feel so brave

Rewatching Coffee and Vanilla for a bit of sweaty naughtiness from Dori Sakurada on this cold and miserable work day!

Yes, I am working... honest!!

Popping in to say the rubber broom is indeed a game changer, thanks Aesops!

I feel absolutely rubbish today, but I've got so much to do, I want to watch sweaty naughtiness too Briiiiick, but I don't think it's appropriate viewing for my two at home 😬😬

www.soompi.com/article/1507750wpp/oh-young-soo-from-squid-game-becomes-1st-korean-actor-to-win-best-supporting-actor-at-golden-globes

Aah, great news for Oh Young Soo 👏

Rewatching Coffee and Vanilla for a bit of sweaty naughtiness from Dori Sakurada on this cold and miserable work day!

Now I think of it, I’m due a rewatch of that too….

@Rowdythree

www.soompi.com/article/1507750wpp/oh-young-soo-from-squid-game-becomes-1st-korean-actor-to-win-best-supporting-actor-at-golden-globes

Aah, great news for Oh Young Soo 👏

That's awesome he's got recognition after such a long career. I'm still moved to tears at that interview with him 😭

@Rowdythree

Popping in to say the rubber broom is indeed a game changer, thanks Aesops!

I feel absolutely rubbish today, but I've got so much to do, I want to watch sweaty naughtiness too Briiiiick, but I don't think it's appropriate viewing for my two at home 😬😬

No, best wait until after bedtime methinks!! 🥵

You’re all making me want to play hooky & watch kdrama. Reality is more pedestrian - a hurried lunch before another bladder-busting run of Teams meetings. 😱

What is this filth you have forced on my innocent lunchtime eyes?

@polkettle

What is this filth you have forced on my innocent lunchtime eyes?

😂😂😂

Loving the reviewer who said "It's like 50 Shades and Twilight had a baby" 😂

As with most J-dramas, feminism must be set aside for 5 hours...

And they are the FL & 2ML from Morning Call so it's a sort of perverse epilogue (not really)

started to watch Use For My Talent - Netflix / CDrama... it has Jasper Liu in (i know some of you are rather fond of his dimples!)... It's a chinese version of Cleaning With Passion (which i dropped).... but tyhis version loolks much more fun!
Apologies if you have already discussed this... Late to the Party (am refusing to dip into Singles Inferno! - sound like crack!)