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!

Aw!!! 😘 I’ll be there with an umbrella magically appearing above your head when it unexpectedly rains in full sunshine xx

I'd piggyback you all if you got drunk on soju at the tent bar and broke your high heel and twisted your ankle 🥰

Ahh FedUp 🥰
I'd clean any teenie tiny scratches sustained whilst on the soju with a cotton bud and by blowing on them 💋

Pol I completely agree re Start Up . I wasn't sure if my love for computer geeks was swaying my opinion, but if you think so too I must be right 😂

Jin got a wee friend today

@boatyardblues

Snowdrop did not have a Bea-friendly ending but everything was neatly and satisfactorily concluded. I have a couple of niggles about the final showdown but in all a very solid 8 or 9. The leads were terrific and there were some standout supporting roles. Yoon Se Ah was outstanding as Director Pi and Jang Seung Jo and Jung Eugene were also great as the SK agents. Jang Seung Jo looked knackered by the end, but his wife had baby #2 on New Year’s Eve 2021 so I’m guessing he was combining a punishing filming schedule for Snowdrop with full-on home stuff with his missus and their toddler.

😡😤... Nope! Not for me then! 👋

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

🥰🥰🥰

😂🤣😂🤣 Blubbing away to CLOY! Perfect valentines day viewing! 👍👍🥰

@FedUpWithBriiiiick it's Suga!! 👋👋👋

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59636403
Has someone posted this before!?

Surely easier to get to than SK for us poor folk?.. 🤣😂🤣🥰💜

Gotta love a geek with integrity (and big hands) TheGirl.

Thanks for the Chingus Valentines love FedUp. It totally cheered me up earlier and made laugh. (Damn meno hormonal slumps.) As one of the thread’s carthorses, I would totally carry you home from a drunken third round noraebang session and tip you onto your sofa before tucking you in and tiptoeing out quietly.

Also, after a couple of weeks’ bellyaching about there being no decent live to air series I am now frustrated that I can’t binge FLAW over a weekend. I love that it’s so forwards. Bless young Song Kang and his willingness to strip down to his undercrackers in the furtherance of a good story. 😂 Kdrama needs more of these brave jdrama-like pioneers.

Song Kang in his undies you say... That's my nights viewing sorted!

Happy valentines to you lovely Chingus, I'd crack open the first aid kit and patch up any wounds or mop fevered brows💓

Implied nakedness actually Rowdy but I really hope they allowed him to keep his undies on.

🙌

Managed to convince DH to watch The Future Diary, Pol. 😊😊😊

At first he was cynical and unconvinced, but by the end of the first episode he was hooked in. He's very worried about the wee poppets, it's hard to reassure him without giving too much away 😁

@boatyardblues

Also, after a couple of weeks’ bellyaching about there being no decent live to air series I am now frustrated that I can’t binge FLAW over a weekend. I love that it’s so forwards. Bless young Song Kang and his willingness to strip down to his undercrackers in the furtherance of a good story. 😂 Kdrama needs more of these brave jdrama-like pioneers.

Same!!! I'm aching for the next episodes. I'm loving PMY's miserable bake, and delighted when she opened up a can of whoop ass on the nasty ex, she seemed to get her mojo back.

My initial misgivings about the chemistry was thankfully unfounded. Quare sexy!

😊😊😊 FedUp
Valentine's meal deal (for four ...) eaten ashamed to say we've gone into An Officer and a Gentleman tonight for ol' times sake. 20 MINUTES IN AND A BRA IS BEING UNDONE. Shocked and appalled by the filth I used to subject myself to.

Briiick I'd carefully move your head so you could sleep against my shoulder, and hover my hand above your face like I wanted to stroke it (ok, that sounds weird but happy valentines!). Nice SUGA addition to the family too :)

I want to watch ep 2 of FLAW thanks to Boaty's description of what Song Kang will do in the name of acting, but DH has opted for The Red Sleeve instead.

Pol I fought the masses in M & S for our meal deal, took one look at the tiny box of frites offered up and headed straight for the freezer section and the big bags of chips. I don't blame you for doubling up.

Bea, I love the thought of lots of people going to Switzerland just because of CLOY! Switzerland was mentioned on FLAW too, why does SK love it so much?

I have a really annoying earworm of a children's song about tomatoes courtesy of Run BTS episode 30. Begone tomato song!

@MusiqueAutomatique Is that the one where they have to remember the words after being asleep?? So funny!!

I've seen that Run BTS too, so cute in their pj's 😆

Well I've just played a nice romantic Game of Life with the kids, now I'm settling down for FLAW, as DH is out.

The Girl and Rowdy that's the one! The sleepy band members were very sweet but that damn song is not.

We just watched a very tense episode of the Red Sleeve with much king:crown prince drama as usual. Followed up with I Was Male War Bride on normal television, thanks to Talking Pictures TV. I feel Cary Grant would have been right at home in a kdrama.

I loved the first episode of FLAW, I got so ridiculously angry at her vile ex though😡 Yoon Park just has the right face for being a bastard.

It's funny you mentioned My Shy Boss Musique as I was just thinking about that show this morning, it doesn't get mentioned very often (probably for good reason 😁)

Find yourself a man who knits a cactus that looks like you for your blind grandmother to celebrate the opening of her corndog shop.

My Shy Boss was just downright depressing in the end. I slogged my way through it. There was a lot to like (her relationship with her co-workers for example) but the central storyline was just too sad.

Pol I gave up on Start Up last summer after episode 8 because I got bored with all the business talk. And the episodes were so long! Should I return to it? Does it get more exciting?!