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'm just doing duolingo for Korean at the moment, I figure I can teach myself hangeul and some basic vocab for free and if I still want to continue I can then progress onto spending money. It's really interesting to hear people's reviews of their lessons.

Today was a bit of a bad day so to take my mind off it we went and had lunch at our local (45 min drive away) korean restaurant. It was soooo good. Kimchi pancakes, tteokbokki, fried chicken, radish kimchi...we ordered too much so took it home and the children had it for their dinner, they were delighted!

Monday's episode of Our Beloved Summer was a bit heart breaking in the last few minutes and explained a lot. Has anyone else watched it yet?

I’m all caught up with Our Beloved Summer, Musique. Monday’s was sad, but I also salute the writers for drawing me in. FL & ML both seemed annoying as characters (though entertaining) at the start, but now I think they are both adorable. I’m worried about PDnim as he seems to be spiralling. If only he’d wake up to his devoted deputy! 🤦‍♀️

My obsession with Nigeru... has put all other dramas on the back burner yesterday and today, but I'm nearly done so will be back on track tomorrow.

Went on an early evening walk listening to Gen Hoshino, which gave me a spring in my step!

Just driven DS to his drama listening to him too FedUp 😁

Ahh Musique I'm well jel of your delicious food! I hope it managed to perk up your bad day.
I'm still on my way through The Red Sleeve which I'm loving. Not too much identikit, wispy bearded old men scheming in it 😆

Thought I'd finished and then discovered there's a one off 2021 sequel FedUp! 🥰

Does anyone know what happened with the Single's Inferno people? Where are they now? I've tried googling to no avail. 😆

I am also enjoying this contract marriage drama.
House cleaning is a chore, I would love a sparkly clean house & delicious bento boxes for lunch. Throw in groceries too, ahhhh no wonder contract marriages revolve around house chores (the most thankless job in the world).

I wonder what are the project wages for house wives in UK.

Here are some more contract relationship/marriage dramas dramacool.news/genre/contract-relationship.html

I am looking forward to She & her perfect husband.

@bettys isn't that caddy lovely, wait till the mosquito screen cleaning hack.

@polkettle

Thought I'd finished and then discovered there's a one off 2021 sequel FedUp! 🥰

Working my way through it, Pol!

@JinBhoot

I am also enjoying this contract marriage drama. House cleaning is a chore, I would love a sparkly clean house & delicious bento boxes for lunch. Throw in groceries too, ahhhh no wonder contract marriages revolve around house chores (the most thankless job in the world).

I wonder what are the project wages for house wives in UK.

Here are some more contract relationship/marriage dramas dramacool.news/genre/contract-relationship.html

I am looking forward to She & her perfect husband.

@bettys isn't that caddy lovely, wait till the mosquito screen cleaning hack.

Oh thanks for that recommendation list Jin!

Good work - I'll keep it for tomorrow as I see it's 2 hours.
Instagram stalkers seem to have found fairly convincing evidence for chest hair and choice (spoiler free just in case) still being together Sakura

Boaty yes, the writing is good on Our Beloved Summer. Mr PD needs to lay off the booze and go for a meal with the deputy that isn't interrupted by the extremely blunt writer! I think we'll have three romances in this by the end, the manager and the best friend seem to be on the same wavelength.

The Girl the food was sooo good. Definitely returning at night for bbq, beer and soju.
I'm about to put on The Red Sleeve as a counterbalance to moon water shenanigans, I'm really enjoying it too.

Surely there's a Cdrama in this?!
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/12/womans-diary-goes-viral-as-lockdown-in-china-forces-her-to-stay-with-blind-date

Oh I do like a good drama list, thanks Jin!

I see Full House is on that list. It's worth watching for Rain fans following The Hungry and The Hairy!

It's dated, but great.

Another top tip from the jdrama - we've discussed freezing grapes on here before but the older behatted guy says to run them under water and the peel comes off easily Plus I like the little see through macs they put on the grape bunches (why though?)

@bettys

Another top tip from the jdrama - we've discussed freezing grapes on here before but the older behatted guy says to run them under water and the peel comes off easily Plus I like the little see through macs they put on the grape bunches (why though?)

For pure cuteness. Kawaii: It's the fuel that moves Japan.

Haven't posted in a while - feel like I should say Happy New Year but getting a bit late for that at this stage, but Happy new Year anyway! I didn't get much kdrama-watching done over Christmas but have finally managed to finish Jirisan, think I must be the last one at this stage. Felt it dragged a bit coming up towards the last episode or two, and then of course, 1 year later was all a bit rushed. But glad I stuck with it.

Just realised today that I never finised Hometown Cha cha cha - must do that. Also wanted to watch the moon one but watched 2 episodes and DH said he wouldn't mind watching it so was waiting for him but at this stage he has lost his chance.

Well done on the Koreadn learning. I was doing well for a while last year but have fallen off the wagon. I was doing a bit of TTMIK podcasts, Duolingo, Memrise and one go of Pimsleur on Audible which was quite good but not sure I want to waste credits on it. Must get back to Duolingo at least, and the TTMIK podcasts a bit too - they're usually nice and short and can listen to them on dog walks. Even if it just means I can spot past tense, future tense etc in dialogue on TV.

I worried about just how much money you'd blow at a pick your own grapes joint. At least strawberries require a bit of effort and you can eat surreptitiously as you go.
Love the blind date article - but sounds like the ML was miscast 😁

Is anyone watching Snowdrop? Is it on Disney?

@JinBhoot

Is anyone watching Snowdrop? Is it on Disney?

I've been keeping an eye out for it on Disney+ but nothing yet. Might have to go to Olga's for it, although I've already inadvertently seen so many spoilers on Insta/YouTube because it's been out so long 😒

Is anyone watching the kdrama on AppleTV (wish I could remember its name)?

@FedUpWithBriiiiick I have seen spoilers as well so it feels like as if I have seen the show.
I will continue watching it via spoilers 😆.

Dr Brain Boaty? I watched it and enjoyed it's brand of high falutin nonsense a lot.

Hugs on Tuesdays which happens to be recycling day so easy to remember … I am loving Nigeru wa Haji daga yaku ni tatsu (We Married as a Job)
Drama is quite interesting & well made.

Guess who has grapes in the freezer 🙋🏻‍♀️ hopefully it wouldn’t knock out my crown.

Where are you all watching the Japanese contract marriage drama?