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!

@MusiqueAutomatique

I'm having a bit of a time of it lately but the kdramas are seeing me through. I just want real life to have all the loose ends tied up in a nice big bow right now!

Business Proposal is making me curl up with joy, and I was up to date with FLAW until today. I hope it cheers up a bit. I did fall asleep twice in the same crucial bit in Business Proposal. After that third rewind I decided bed was the more sensible option. It's very bingeable Bea, I agree

25/21 from last weekend is on the cards for tonight so I can catch up with it.

We do have Apple TV but DH has gone off for the weekend so I won't start Pachinko until he gets back.

Fighting Musique sending you love & hugs

That sounds like the perfect gift Jin! 🥰

Hope you're ok Musique. Sending best wishes.

I have a lovely orchid and a hastily written card. I am also being given plenty of space to crack through Men of the Harem (webtoon) in peace. 😄 To those of you who’ve read it, the empress’s ideal consort would be her right hand man, Lord Sonnaught’s son - am I right, or what? I am at the stage where the harem is fairly new and she’s still getting to know the consorts. 🤦‍♀️ Weirdly enough, a lot of sageuk machination has now fallen into place for me - the role of (female) consorts and concubines and their heirs in stabilising court politics and feudal structures - now I’m reading men of the harem. The numerous half blood siblings and succession lines now make sense. Is the writer Korean, even though the vibe is 18thC European royal families?

@boatyardblues

I have a lovely orchid and a hastily written card. I am also being given plenty of space to crack through Men of the Harem (webtoon) in peace. 😄 To those of you who’ve read it, the empress’s ideal consort would be her right hand man, Lord Sonnaught’s son - am I right, or what? I am at the stage where the harem is fairly new and she’s still getting to know the consorts. 🤦‍♀️ Weirdly enough, a lot of sageuk machination has now fallen into place for me - the role of (female) consorts and concubines and their heirs in stabilising court politics and feudal structures - now I’m reading men of the harem. The numerous half blood siblings and succession lines now make sense. Is the writer Korean, even though the vibe is 18thC European royal families?

That webtoon starts off with a lot of promise but goes nowhere quickly Boaty. I've half given up on it 😬

I got Animal Crossing themed Monopoly. First gift directly from DS. Cute.

Ah, thanks for the warning. I’ll read on for a bit but won’t waste any money on it. It starts so well, though it’s put me right off the stable of racehorse oppas idea. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. 😂

@boatyardblues

Ah, thanks for the warning. I’ll read on for a bit but won’t waste any money on it. It starts so well, though it’s put me right off the stable of racehorse oppas idea. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. 😂

Aye give it a whirl but don't spend any PRECIOUS PRECIOUS coins.

Yeah Men of the Harem has the Plot to SHALALA ratio all wrong so I packed it in.

Yeah Men of the Harem has the Plot to SHALALA ratio all wrong so I packed it in

I'm reading it as a novel so haven't caught up on the webtoon as I'm way ahead and the story has developed into a good vs evil storyline ( and she still hasn't got together with Sonnaught or Kallein)

The Remarried Empress is fun though

Damn you clocks foiling my 25/21 will drop
so I can watch before I have to go and pick DS up from paintball plans. Now I have to wait AGES. And everything else will arrive an hour later too now 😠

Ahhhhhh. Next week’s 25/21 is going to be terrific. Today’s was hard going in places but they’ve set the finale up wonderfully.

@boatyardblues

Ahhhhhh. Next week’s 25/21 is going to be terrific. Today’s was hard going in places but they’ve set the finale up wonderfully.

It's fab ❤️❤️❤️

@boatyardblues

Ahhhhhh. Next week’s 25/21 is going to be terrific. Today’s was hard going in places but they’ve set the finale up wonderfully.

You're much more optimistic than me boaty!

Anyone else think Ji-Woong will have landed on his feet and paired off with someone unexpected.

I am confident All Will Be Well in 25/21 and the more serious topics today were beautifully weighted. No longer panicking about end game. The conclusion to Pretty Boy's driving saga was 👌I'm thinking a pop career for him?
A lot of mardy faces in FLAW but hooray for penguin couple! 🐧🐧

Happy mother's day Chingus, I hope you've all had a relaxing day full of K drama viewing 🤗

I thought you might appreciate these Soju earrings I found at the weekend 😀

DS was telling me today he wants some really baggy jeans. I said I’d show him a classic 90s ( Ji-Woong’s ep 13 opening) outfit on my current kdrama as I reckon he’d love it. DS recently became obsessed with clothes and that outfit would be totally up his street. I also loved the scene when Hee-Do and Yu-Rim were on the run from school - 90s girls’ grunge fashion was so wearable and comfy.

A lot of mardy faces in FLAW but hooray for penguin couple🐧🐧

I love the penguin couple!
Yes, it would be nice for Si-Woo and Manager Jin to smile just once. I wonder if there will be a repeat of the racy time they had together at the beginning before the end of the series.

Just watched this weekends 25/21 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️ so lovely.
I've not watched anything else as we had friends staying over. But we did go for drinks at my local Korean bar 🍺

We had the same brand of soju as those earrings Rowdy 🤣
I agree about the 90s grunge fashion boaty so comfy!

Ji-Woong’s jeans met with DS’s approval. We found some similar ones he liked on retrohiphopshop.com/collections/mens-jeans/products/ straight after. 😄

Those baggy jeans. I remember them soaking up all the water when it rained 🤣

DS is a martyr to fashion. That won’t bother him at all. 😄

Anyone else finding that Business Proposal has taken the sting out of the Monday morning blues? I’m counting down to tea time. 😄

boatyardblues normally on a Monday I am so happy it is Business Proposal day. But we are away for a few days and I might not get to see it today!!!!!! Gutted.

I might have to go wild and splash out a fiver on Internet for tomorrow to treat myself and watch two episodes together. Decisions, decisions.