MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #31): After a kdrama dry January, a bounteous February glut saw the carousing begin!

[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, AppleTV and Disney+. 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)

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

So, current rankings @ 21.15ish today:

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!

The fencing referee in 25/21. His accent is all over the place! Queens English, American and even a hint of Scottish Highlands in the mix.

There's an anime just landed on Netflix called Kotaro Lives Alone.

It's cute, funny and absolutely heartbreaking. Brilliant.

@Rowdythree

He's awful isn't he Briiiiick. I've just watched the latest episode, those two are the embodiment of the saying 'marry in haste, repent at leisure'. He really has no redeeming features, he's crap at his job, a crap son, a crap boyfriend and now a crap husband!

What was forecaster Um's wife doing too, trying to ruin what little father and daughter relationship they have? Also interfering mothers is one of my least favourite storylines of K dramas. Ka Hyung's mum was giving me the rage this episode.

Despite all that, I love the show 😄

I'm struggling with Ha-kyung's mother too. Very few likeable characters in the show. Song Kang is carrying it!

Oops Ka-hyung!

Aesops glad you persevered and are enjoying! The referee's accent is indeed bizarre! I think I looked him up and he's actually from Northern Ireland?

THANK MONDAY FOR BUSINESS PROPOSAL 😍💃
I totally love 25/21 but I have a fear that it's going to break my heart at some point. Confident Business Proposal is not going to make me cry. Loving fringe down soppy CEO.

@sakura06

Aesops glad you persevered and are enjoying! The referee's accent is indeed bizarre! I think I looked him up and he's actually from Northern Ireland?

Ref grew up in the USA. Amazing name! mydramalist.com/people/63417-garrison-michael-farquharson-keener

@polkettle

THANK MONDAY FOR BUSINESS PROPOSAL 😍💃 I totally love 25/21 but I have a fear that it's going to break my heart at some point. Confident Business Proposal is not going to make me cry. Loving fringe down soppy CEO.

Me too pol. 😖

Same here. Perfect tonic! I like the second couple in Business Proposal too.

Pol I'm going to start Business Proposal next so it's reassuring to hear a good review.

I am also worried about 25/21 but I'm hoping it follows the traditional formula of trouble in the middle and then a pleasing ending. I was wondering why on earth there was a random westerner going on about food and baby slings at one point, so I'm glad that was explained fairly quickly. I think the referee was raised in the US after being born in NI so he probably does have a genuinely odd accent.

Howl's Moving Castle is a great film but perhaps an even better book. Have you read it Bea and Briiiick? Diana Wynne Jones also wrote two other books in the same series, Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. They're not sequels but feature some of the same characters. Ostensibly they're children's books but who cares about that?!

Loving Business Proposal and I agree with boatyardblues really liking the second couple. Doesn't the ML sound lovely speaking English? It seems to be a cross between a Mills and Boon and a screwball comedy, just my kinda thing.

I wish it would drop on Netflix nice and early in the day, so I could watch it with my breakfast.

Garrison Michael Farquarson-Keener is NOT a name you hear regularly down the Shankill Road... 😄

I will investigate!

My husband just told me that a bloke that got to the final of Pointless tonight wanted Korean dramas as one of the topics.

Is that anyone on this thread? Come on, confess all.

Oh gosh Business Proposal is just the ticket! And so nice to see 2ML with something to do after his rather vague role-for-no-reason in So I Married The Anti-Fan

It had not occurred to me that we might have male posters. I assumed all the oppa appreciation would have sent most men screaming in horror from the thread but that’s a lazy assumption. My previous boss was a proper dandy and would love how beautifully turned out they are.

You never know boatyardblues there are male posters on Mumsnet, they could well be on here. A lot of the kdrama women are absolutely beautiful, actually they all are.

They really are beautifully dressed, aren't they? Goblin has given me a deep appreciation of lovely knitwear and an oversized scarf.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Oops Ka-hyung!

Yes!! Very unlikeable! And it's weird as I usually love the actor... Her characters are usually fab!! Miss Jo! Healer!! 😍

@MusiqueAutomatique

Pol I'm going to start Business Proposal next so it's reassuring to hear a good review.

I am also worried about 25/21 but I'm hoping it follows the traditional formula of trouble in the middle and then a pleasing ending. I was wondering why on earth there was a random westerner going on about food and baby slings at one point, so I'm glad that was explained fairly quickly. I think the referee was raised in the US after being born in NI so he probably does have a genuinely odd accent.

Howl's Moving Castle is a great film but perhaps an even better book. Have you read it Bea and Briiiick? Diana Wynne Jones also wrote two other books in the same series, Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. They're not sequels but feature some of the same characters. Ostensibly they're children's books but who cares about that?!

Not read!! Might look into it!! 👍👍👍😁

Radical suggestion for the weather forecasters/citizens of Seoul: You'd probably sleep better in 25 degree heat without the duvet and the tracksuit.

My husband just told me that a bloke that got to the final of Pointless tonight wanted Korean dramas as one of the topics

Interesting. I wonder what the questions were.

@Andante57

My husband just told me that a bloke that got to the final of Pointless tonight wanted Korean dramas as one of the topics

Interesting. I wonder what the questions were.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a topic, it was what he wanted to have questions on.

Mr Penguin Nerd and Ms Inaccurate Crocodile is my main emotional investment in FLAW now. He does remind me of my first bf who explained factual inaccuracies about shark behaviour in a James Bond film during our first date.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a topic, it was what he wanted to have questions on

Ah, ok.
It’s only a matter of time before someone choose k drama as their special subject on Mastermind. (Does that still exist? We’ve completely given up uk television in favour of k drama and for all I know Tomorrow’s World is still being broadcast).

@Andante57

Unfortunately, it wasn't a topic, it was what he wanted to have questions on

Ah, ok.
It’s only a matter of time before someone choose k drama as their special subject on Mastermind. (Does that still exist? We’ve completely given up uk television in favour of k drama and for all I know Tomorrow’s World is still being broadcast).

Ooh, that would be a great special subject for Mastermind. I must admit, at the moment I don't watch a great deal of live tv, as soon as husband goes to bed, kdrama it is.

Ah, ok. It’s only a matter of time before someone choose k drama as their special subject on Mastermind. (Does that still exist? We’ve completely given up uk television in favour of k drama and for all I know Tomorrow’s World is still being broadcast).

You'd have to narrow it down though wouldn't you? I mean it's VAST like saying UK drama ...

I think my subject would be 'kdrama tropes' with special reference to White Truck of Doom.....

(and LOL at Tomorrow's World still being broadcast.....mind you Antiques Roadshow still is and I quite like it if only to watch the faces of people fall who then say they wouldn't be selling it anyway)