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!

@Rowdythree

And because its Christmas Eve Eve, here's a photo of him looking like the cover of a Christmas single

He can fill my stocking any day...

Thanks FedUp. It got glitchy and it was taking 3 or 4 attempts to get each post loaded. I got annoyed and stalked off in a huff. 😄

I need some new current screeners now I've only got Beloved Summer on the go . Might try Uncle and Moonshine (waiting to see how The Red Sleeve finishes). Also finally watching Yumis Cells which I'm delighted to find so faithful to Webtoon and works best in small chunks for me rather than binged. And allowing myself to wallow in a festive Hospital Playlist rewatch from the beginning...
Anyone else doing Japanese reality show The Future Diary ? Shamelessly manipulative but I'm hooked.

Very festive Rowdy 🎅🎄☺️

PARK SEO JOON! What an actor. Charm, comic timing and unafraid to show vulnerability in his roles. Rowdy I will look up Ji Sung with great pleasure.

Sakura I'm sorry to hear about your children and your Christmas. I hope you manage to have fun nonetheless. Hydrogen how are you today?

Briiick I have to say I don't remember Kim Sung-Young in Because This is My First Life at all! I remember the FL wonderful friends very well...must go back and jog my memory. I liked her best in CLOY, her willingness to play 'ugly' and the breadth of her acting, both comic and not was wonderful.

I agree she should be called THWAIK Pol but I think my husband's favourite Park Jin-joo may be on her way to claiming that crown...I have seen her in everything lately.

I am really enjoying Our Beloved Summer. I was sceptical about having him draw for five hours as a spectator sport but it seemed to work out. I really love how with each episode we are given a little bit more of their history which helps set their current behaviour into the right context. Very good writing in my opinion.

Boaty good luck with the food shopping. I have to go and play fridge jenga with our grocery delivery now...I think I have definitely over-ordered cream.

DH has been catching bits of To Fly with Me and has commented on how low stakes and flat the cliffhangers are. We’ve coined stephanger to give them a proper sense of proportion.

😁 I love a stephanger show. Never been a fan of plummeting heights.

@boatyardblues

DH has been catching bits of To Fly with Me and has commented on how low stakes and flat the cliffhangers are. We’ve coined stephanger to give them a proper sense of proportion.

Brilliant. Another phrased tagged for the chat 👍

Feeling pretty awful today- I need festive Park Seo Jun to come and bring me paracetamol and hot drinks.
I can't do much thinking today so watching secret royal inspector and Jordan and then maybe either a rematch or a cdrama romcom for low thinking states. Although some jdrama wackiness could be interesting as I feel pretty out of it!
I reckon Kim Mi Kyung could give a run for THWAIK- although I've not seen her in anything recent? She usually pops up everywhere!

Oh Hydrogensonata, how miserable, get plenty of rest and stay warm and cosy.

I've just finished To fly with you, it was a very tense finale, I absolutely loved this show. ML and FL were so sweet! I love the ice skating too, can't wait to watch the winter Olympics now!

So, I've now got Dali and the Cocky Prince and You're beautiful to finish before new year. I think that's achievable

Hydrogen sorry to hear you feel rubbish.
You are right about Kim Mi Kyung, she seems to be the mother in most things on TV. The most recent thing I've seen her in is Would You Like A Cup of Coffee? but her CV is impressive, four to five dramas in most years.

One of the reasons I got fed up with Doctor Who is because of the cliffhangers - the world was always about to end but it was always saved in the nick of time, blah blah blah x infinity. So stephanger is absolutely fine by me!

Inspired by To fly with you, I've booked a Christmas eve ice skating session ⛸️😀

DH and I got back from our final trip to the supermarket at around 2pm. As we got out of the car we laughed and said we could crack open the wine. I fell asleep in front of The Royal Tenenbaums instead so it’s now a respectable time to start drinking. I can’t believe Royal Tenenbaums is 20 years old. 😱 I thought I’d get a crack at kdrama but DH has just put 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea (Kirk Douglas/James Mason one) on. 🙄

Well done Boaty. My food shopping is postponed till tomorrow, very daring move, like to living on the edge.

I have just logged off from work & ordered dinner via Deliveroo. Hellooooo 10 days of Netflix & chill (actual one - pjs & snacks)

10 days of Netflix and chill sounds great Jin.

I can tell I’ve lost the plot because James Mason is looking goooood in his blue trousers and roll neck sweater. I haven’t even had a drink as that would involve moving from the sofa to the kitchen. 🤣

Dear God. ML in To Fly with You is such an idiot (bungled confession). I’m cringing for him. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Oppa advent day twenty four!

It's Christmas eve, our final Christmas Oppa can be none other than Hyun Bin

And here's our final bonus picture of a festive and cosy Bin!

Binnie-boy!! Fill my stocking, top my tree and flame my pudding My First Oppa 😍🥰

Who else could it be behind door 24? Merry Christmas, Mr Binn x

Festive Binnie 😍🥰 Merry Christmas all!

@boatyardblues

Dear God. ML in To Fly with You is such an idiot (bungled confession). I’m cringing for him. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

He's an absolute melter.

@boatyardblues

Dear God. ML in To Fly with You is such an idiot (bungled confession). I’m cringing for him. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I could barely watch this! I had to keep pausing it. It took me about half an hour to watch I was cringing so much 😬

A Ms Latte Daebak Cafe round of applause for the end of @polkettle's advent battle 👏👏👏

So many highs and lows... a rollercoaster of festive treats and shitting owls.

Ah, Bin is the obvious choice for 24th, a unifying crowd pleaser. 👏

I have dipped in and out of Pol’s advent broadcasts and the “shitting owl”/“fucking cake!” one (19th?) made me laugh.

I cheated and opened day 24 window of my L’Occitane calendar yesterday so I could recycle the cardboard. Yay! More handcream… I’m all set with toiletries for the gym and short breaks now. Let us all hope we are not locked down again after Christmas. 🙏