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!

bettys you could have best wrist grab, best echoing footsteps, best dressing up as the opposite sex, best getting drunk and blurting out the truth, the list is endless.

Mind you given that it's ALL i've watched pretty much for the last 4 years I reckon I'd have a pretty good shot at Mastermind...and then lose the plot on General Knowledge

4 years, blimey, you have been at this a long time. Only a few weeks for me, but I just can't stop.

@Metheven

4 years, blimey, you have been at this a long time. Only a few weeks for me, but I just can't stop.

I was like that last year when I started watching kdramas. I took one week AL just to binge watch Kdramas. Lockdown was helpful as there was no social life. Have you watched Chicago Typewriter?

I am loving I'll Find You on a Beautiful Day just finished ep4, i think I can watch another one before bedtime.
Book club is just so heart warming, I must suggest this format to my book group. But they might soon kick me out, since I have discovered kdramas, my book reading has gone down hill.

JinBhoot I wish I had discovered kdrama when lockdown was on. I was still working, only part time, but with husband and son both working from home, there wasn't much space for me. It would have been lovely to binge watch when I came home from work.

Not seen Chicago Typewriter or I'll Find You On A Beautiful Day as yet, but I will add them to my every growing list.

I started Love In The Moonlight yesterday, which I am powering through. Slightly distracted by Park Bo Gum's teeth, though - there are an awful lot of them.

@polkettle

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

Oh my God, yes!! I thought exactly the same thing.

Book club is just so heart warming, I must suggest this format to my book group. But they might soon kick me out, since I have discovered kdramas, my book reading has gone down hill.

I have the same problem.

And ditto re how distracting Park Bo Gum’s teeth are.

Just watched ep 9&10 of 25/21
It's so good!! Nam Joo-hyuk is a lovely, lovely ML, super dreamy 😍 and the rest of them are ace too.

"I think I just saw a real living breathing MASTERPIECE!" excellent shalalalaing in today's Secretary Out of Order 😁

I can't be doing with Park Yer Bum's teeth either.

Long time no see chingus. I always try to rtft before posting… which often means I then don’t have time to post! 🙈

Im adoring 25/21, ml and fl are both brilliant and I loved how the reconciliation between the 2 fls went. The beach episode was so much fun, but I had a moment at the end of the previous episode where I thought ‘let’s just stop watching it here! When ml looks at fl and says what he does it would have been a perfect ending. Ok so there’d be a few loose ends with the grandma saying she’d seen him recently, Hee-do sounding not bothered and the daughter probably not being his, but 🤷‍♀️ I’d be willing to overlook those!

When the daughter was reminding her about the beach trip and Hee-do seemed to have no recollection of it, I wondered if she had had an accident and lost her memory, which is why she lost touch with him.

One thing I'm finding difficult in 25/22 is that Yu-rim's father actually drives a White Truck of Doom. I cringe in horrified expectation every time he drives off in it.

In other news Happiness is coming to Netflix in April, good news for a brilliant drama. I hope it is very successful.

Anyone else still watching Thirty Nine? We watched ep 5 yesterday. I was minded to give it up to be honest, but the terminal illness storyline didn't seem quite so depressing. I want to know what happens with Ms. Make-up counter and the restaurant guy, as well as the outcome of Mr Peony's family troubles.

Same! Re Yu-rim's Dad's truck Musique

"I think I just saw a real living breathing MASTERPIECE!" excellent shalalalaing in today's Secretary Out of Order 😁

I just dropped everything and ran straight to Webtoon 😂😂

Oh the red herrings in 25/21 are driving me nuts. But setting great store by the fact that she was driving a red car at the end and also had a little grin/sparkle in her eye when she said it was good that no moment lasts forever.
As long as they're all HAPPY at the end.

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

That’s true - I’m not sure how it could be narrowed down.

The 2nd ML in FLAW is so dreadful though maybe actors quite enjoy playing bastards from the acting point of view.
I thought the murderer in My Love from the Star was good as he could be so charming as well as really evil.

✨SHALALA✨

Oh good work FedUp! Wouldn't let me screenshot 😁

Top Notch FedUp 👍☺️

@leeloo1 I'm really worried that I will wish I'd stopped at Episode 9 of 25/21!

Agree you'd need to narrow down K drama a bit to maybe a favourite writer, director or actor? I have a lot of useless K drama knowledge (mostly gossip). My friend thinks it may have pushed out useful stuff...

Musique please keep us informed on 39! I had really wanted to watch it but have been a bit put off by what I've read!

Jiminy crickets lads, you could be on to something with the White Truck of Doom theory in 25/21!!!

Would explain the personality transplant from ice Queen to lovely gardening ajumma in Hee-do's mum if Hee-do was critically injured...

NOOOOOO!!!!

Also at some point we are going to have to get to the ages of 25 and 21... 10 episodes in and they are still 23 and 19. 🤔

White Truck Of Doom Spotted in Young Lady and Gentleman... Yes!!! I am still watching it in all it's soap opera screechy, Hair pulling, amnesia, treacherous filled episodes... It's hilarious but horribly horribly horribly gripping!!!!!!!! Who knew you could pack so many "Yah's" in each episode!!!!! 😫😲😲😲😲😲😲

BREAKING NEWS!

Jungkook is watching 25/21! HE'S ONE OF US.

Briiiick I just came here to say that! That bit was really funny :)
Nice to think that his 34.4 million instagram followers will also have seen the majestic acting of Nam Joo-hyuk.

The Girl and Briiick I sincerely hope that particular White Truck Of Doom doesn't cause any horrendous accidents. The dad is really sweet. As for the time leap I think we may have one of those really awkward flash forwards that kdramas specialise in, where they all look exactly the same but with a crap wig on (see Itaewon Class).

I'm also enjoying the transition from analogue to digital as displayed in 25/21. It's nice to see the early internet too, it reminds me of going on it for the first time in 1996 and finding a Japanese fan site for a band I liked. The thought I could read stuff written by people in other countries was amazing :)

Sakura I will keep you updated about Thirty-Nine. I think we are nearly half way through now so we may as well keep watching...