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!

@polkettle

I'm removing my unfairly low score for DAYS in light of other people's love. It was the only drama last year I didn't actually finish because weirdly I just didn't care enough. But don't want to drag it down because it wasn't my particular bag and given others' strong love. It's not like I didn't get enjoyment from parts of it.

I'm 💯 the same.

Ah, but Dennis Waterman has no perceivable sense of humour and looks like a potato (sorry Dennis). Song Dong-il on the other hand looks wonderful with grey hair and specs.

bettys I agree, humour and abs would be just fantastic but let's be pragmatic. Abs turn to fat in time but a sense of humour is invulnerable to the passages of time.

Pol, Boaty. Sort out this silliness.

Why are you denying yourself Briiiick?!

Anyway, that's enough damson gin for me tonight. Must read some of my book about ancient humans instead of thinking about Korean actors.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Look. Stop trying to make Song Dong-il happen. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

He's the Korean Dennis Waterman, for goodness sake!

This 👆

Sorry. Was I supposed to wield a gavel too?

I’m living In Time with You (JP). The ML is very easy viewing and the ML/FL dyad is lovely.

I rewatched DAYS recently. I loved it all over again. Park Bo Young is the best FL IMO. She has just the right amount of twinkle in her eye, impishness and gravitas. She doesn’t cry as prettily as Park Min-Yeong but I prefer her performances by a country mile.

^My interest in YYS only extends to Dong Mae

Me too. Also shallow in this^

Me too 🖐️

I will diplomatically sit on the Song Dong-il fence. I am happy enough to see his cheeky grinning face turn up in a drama and think he has slightly more range than I originally credited him with.
But I don't want to see him in a shower...
(somebody should go on a hunt for his inevitable brooding sexy past photo shoots though and convince us otherwise)
Also this needs to be a judgement free zone for our Oppa partialities or I'll never be able to confess the extent of my watching JJS wiggle his hips dancing clips on YouTube habits.

I really wanted to fry my own little octopus balls after watching In Time With You Boaty. Although the cheese version instead because can't eat octopus after watching My Octopus Teacher.

You are entirely right about this being a judgement free zone Pol. I withdraw my earlier remarks about Song Dong-il.

I’m enjoying In Time with You, probably a bit too much as I had another late night. 🤦‍♀️

@polkettle

I really wanted to fry my own little octopus balls after watching In Time With You Boaty. Although the cheese version instead because can't eat octopus after watching My Octopus Teacher.

Oh me too. I’ll make not to watch My Octopus Teacher so I don’t feel bad about eating them (misses point entirely).

I have a stinking hangover today.After a 3hr walk in the countryside we stopped at the pub for a 'glass of shandy'. 6 hrs and 3 bottles of red later DH and I staggered home🤪 Gym class cancelled and a day's viewing is now on the cards!

I'm up to ep 4 of Rinko it's hilarious. ML has the ugliest smile, his face implodes. He's definitely punching.

@MusiqueAutomatique

Ah, but Dennis Waterman has no perceivable sense of humour and looks like a potato (sorry Dennis). Song Dong-il on the other hand looks wonderful with grey hair and specs.

bettys I agree, humour and abs would be just fantastic but let's be pragmatic. Abs turn to fat in time but a sense of humour is invulnerable to the passages of time.

I'm so glad to see someone else fight Sung Dong Il's corner Musique! I think he looks great with grey hair and specs. Definitely Oppa material..

I humbly withdraw my protestations. This is indeed a judgment-free zone where all Oppas (and unnis) are appreciated for their unique talents 🥰

I'm a fan of Park Bo-young too Boaty. She's a great actor, better than she needs to be sometimes I think. Her chef role in Oh My Ghost made me irritated with her for her shyness as her acting was so good. I'm looking forward to seeing her with PHS in their new film.

Polkettle truth be told, I also do not want to see Song Dong-il in a shower at this stage of his life. But there are other actors available for those sort of scenes. I used to like JJS a bit too but seeing him up to his elbows in livers week after week put me off a bit.

I hope your hangover improves Aesops. What are you going to watch?

Tbf an oppa handy with a liver is just who Aesops needs this morning.

Musique I'm watching Rinko currently then going to try a new KDrama. Hopefully one that does not contain any Soju/booze scenes 🤢

Aesops I love those spontaneous trips to the pub, that end in staggering home 😂 I hope you feel better soon though, hangovers are the worst

I am so enjoying In Time with You. I’m experiencing serious covetousness with the FL’s wardrobe. She looks amazing and stylish in pretty much every episode but not in a try hard, fashion numpty way. I also like that ML and FL are equally matched in terms if intellect, accomplishments and seniority at work and looks. I agree Rinko’s beau was punching well above his weight, but this ML is properly handsome. He reminds me a little of Karl Urban, but less of the Hollywood swagger.

I’m finding the 22 year old assistant annoying, way too eager to please.

Wahhhh! First the powder blue coat. Now the beautiful stone funnel neck coat. This exquisite Japanese tailoring is killing me! Want it! Yo can keep the toyboy. I just want her coats.

Agree and I really liked the style of his mother in it too Boaty.

My ire has now shifted to the clingy temp with an agenda. Give up already! You can’t force water to flow up a hill.

Just saw trailers of Thirty Nine OMG OMG OMG starring Ye-jin (CLOY) & Mi-do (Hospital Playlust). My expectations are wayyyyy up there. This series revolves around the life, friendship, romance and love of three friends, who are about to turn 40 years old. As per internet it will be on Netflix.

Riko done ✔️

Last night watched 10 episodes webdrama Beautiology 101 straight forward, switch off your brain kindda teen drama. It’s on YouTube.

Time for next one.

I've started My Only One, it's very easy to watch and building into a good storyline with interesting characters. If only I'd realised it 53 hour long episodes 🤔.