MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #30): In which we return to Korea from our January Japanese adventures

[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 list is cumulative so includes 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)
The Red Sleeve (Viki)*

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)
Black (Netflix)*
Happiness* (Viki)
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (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)
In House Marriage Honey (Viki, Japanese)
In Time With You (Viki - Japanese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki, Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki, Chinese)
Million Yen Women (Netflix, Japanese)
Morning Call (Netflix, Japanese)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Rinko Wants To Try (Viki)
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 aka “the shit list” 💩

Melting Me Softly
The Birth of a Beauty
Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine & stands alone)

Posters’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1. The Red Sleeve - 10 (2 votes, more pending)
2. Happiness - 9 (6 votes)
3. Devil Judge - 8.75 (3 votes)
4. Squid Game - 8.63 (12 votes)
5. Navillera - 8.57 (7 votes)

2020’s top scoring dramas
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 sometimes resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or favourite actors’ names. 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!

Shooting one? 🤔
Excellent work on the Webtoon spreadsheet Bettys!

Was it not you the suggested Hello, the Sharpshooter? Anyway, I'm going to try it 😆

Not me! But look forward to your report ☺️

@Rowdythree

Was it not you the suggested Hello, the Sharpshooter? Anyway, I'm going to try it 😆

'Twas me!

Aah! Have you started it yet?

@Metheven on the slipper front, DH grew up in Japan and there was a box of slippers for guests. These could be washed easily. I'm guessing it's the same in Korea?

Can't believe all the shade thrown at LMH on this thread 😆 I think he's probably my favourite Oppa. I can't believe he's as old as me either 😆 The promo photo for Pachinko where he's wearing the white suit is 🔥. I hear the character is absolutely awful and abusive though... I need to try and read the book before the series comes out!

Disney+ are being slow on their K drama releases. How was Snowdrop if anyone watched it at Olga's?

@Rowdythree

Aah! Have you started it yet?

Not yet. Pottery Throwdown was on 😁

I laughed at whoever said LMH was 39 not 34 upthread. I agree. He’s older than he says (that, or he needs to get a better plastic surgeon).

[quote sakura06]@Metheven on the slipper front, DH grew up in Japan and there was a box of slippers for guests. These could be washed easily. I'm guessing it's the same in Korea?

Can't believe all the shade thrown at LMH on this thread 😆 I think he's probably my favourite Oppa. I can't believe he's as old as me either 😆 The promo photo for Pachinko where he's wearing the white suit is 🔥. I hear the character is absolutely awful and abusive though... I need to try and read the book before the series comes out!

Disney+ are being slow on their K drama releases. How was Snowdrop if anyone watched it at Olga's?[/quote]
The book is excellent. Definitely read.

Thanks @sakura06 I find all the little details very interesting and I am very nosy.

@boatyardblues LMH only did his military service just before Eternal Monarch so probably the latter

Well, if there's no competition for him, I'll claim LMH as mine 😆

@bettys

Prestel & boaty like I say, I did watch Possessed until the end but it is not a 🐝 friendly ending (ie happy) although there is hope.

I watched the K2 for Wookie after Healer. The shower scene is extremely enjoyable but the drama goes a bit downhill after that. JCW has far more chemistry with the villainess than the FL. Suspicious Partner much better and less chaste.

I concur with @bettys... K2 was a HUGE disappointment after Healer...wishy washy silliness and the most outrageous over the top background music ever!!... It's often discussed on here... after the epic greatness of Healer and the marvel of Suspicious Partner... Ji Chang Wook has let himself (and us!!) down with picking complete turkeys!! It's soooo disappointing!! 😤... I don't think I'll ever forgive him... Each new drama... Hope for more fine knitwear and epic "grrrrr-ness"... It's never resurfaced! 😭... We used to call him Grrr Ji Chang Wook... But not for a very long time now! 😭... It's toooo sad!!... The military stole his mojo!! 😥😢

I think Brambly is probably right. LMH would have been 30 when he started military service according to his official age which is the very latest it can be delayed in special cases. I'm quite ambivalent about him myself. He definitely overacts, but that's kind of a Korean thing, it's the style. And his look isn't really to western tastes, I think, but he is undeniably compelling in everything he's in. He definitely has something about him, if only a knack for scoring roles in top notch shows. I'm not a huge fan but I don't dislike him either.

Snowdrop is a little problematic... www.nme.com/news/tv/scholars-pen-open-letter-to-disney-over-k-drama-snowdrop-3134785... Lots of complaints!

@BrambleyHedge I watched ep 1 of reset yesterday! (not a we westlife album in sight yet!) very different from You Are My Hero.. But intriguing nonetheless! Will continue to watch!!

Welcome Prestel!! 😁

I've only ever seen LMH in Heirs which I did enjoy, but nothing else he's done has appealed to me. I'm the same as Prestel, I dont like him or dislike him. I really want to watch Pachinko though, I'm thoroughly enjoying the book.

Bea I've read about all the complaints about Snowdrop, I find that period of time really interesting so I was hoping to watch it. It seems like they're not giving into pressure and cancelling it.

Snowdrop has completed in Korea (? and in other Disney plus regions - no idea why it's not been added here yet) I think will be too sad for me.

Grrr work annoyance from a meeting with a mansplainer. Need some fluffy light to boost my spirits.

Grrr. Get Mr Binn to punch his lights out FedUp.
Meanwhile I just let out a whoop at an email connected to my work and (finally!) a Korean language version to come 🥰

@polkettle

Grrr. Get Mr Binn to punch his lights out FedUp. Meanwhile I just let out a whoop at an email connected to my work and (finally!) a Korean language version to come 🥰

Oh that's given me joy!!!! 👏👏👏

Fab news Pol, will it be available to buy here?

Only the boring old English one here Rowdy. Not a big deal really but will be lovely to have some Hangul in the house that I should be able to understand 😂

Congratulations pol that’s such cool news!!! 👏👏

Congrats Pol, or should I say 축하합니다? Can’t you wangle a promo tour?

Well I’ve had a thoroughly dull work day. Thank God it’s over. Time to go and fire up the hob for tonight’s kimchi stew. I’m kicking myself for not buying more frozen mandu last time I went in for kimchi.