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!

Ah shit, how did we get down to the last 75 posts without me noticing? This one won’t manage the weekend’s 25/21 and FLAW finales. We’re going to need a bigger boat (thread 32). First orders for updates and additions to the OP please lovely Addicts.

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

Not for Insta, but thought I would share this EXCLUSIVE pap shot of Mr Binn on his stag... OMO!!

Oi Oi Mr Binn!!

Hello my lovely chingus, work has been v v rubbish the last few weeks so I've hardly watched any dramas. I'm on a night shift at the minute and I've just caught up on the thread! Love Mr Binns stag photo!!
I hope you are all ok 😘😘😘

Ah Girl, only just seen your message. 👋 Hope you had an uneventful night shift. If you’re still up, I wish you a safe journey home and a refreshing, renewing sleep.

I am just about to claim the first, best cuddle of the day from our cat before I unlock his cat flap. With the weather picking up he’ll be gone for hours. 😄

It’s 25/21 day!!!! 🎉🥳💃🏻🕺🏻🍾

A cardboard Oppa's life is bright but short FedUp and Mr Binn has YOLOed to the max. Sudden moment of revelation - THIS is the goodbye I watched 39 to prepare myself for! Make sure you take a good white carnation surrounded memorial photo...
Now who's going to buy the cardboard Gong Yoo? 😉

Thanks boaty work was hectic! I'm in bed now though and I'm off the rest of the weekend 😎

boaty& can we add On The Verge of Insanity (Slice of life) and Pachinko^ (Historical) ?

I know Pachinko hasn't finished airing but it is quality stuff

Gah got my bolds and italics mixed up. Also Business Proposal (Romance fluffy)

Gotta put 25/21 in the list! I'm predicting a satisfactory ending.

Slice of life - lighthearted.

Completely agree about Kim's Convenience @boatyardblues! It's so heartfelt and funny. The photo episode is brilliant. Simu Liu is absolutely gorgeous in it too.

Sorry to hear Tomorrow isn't great. The trailer looked so promising.

pol please share the sources of the wedding photos!

Thoughts on including Snowdrop in the OP? I thought it was really good. I’m undecided between period drama and darker romance, but it could equally go under thrillers.

Oh yes definitely put Snowdrop in the OP, it was brilliant. I think I would put it under period drama or thriller. Romance was only a tiny bit of the plot

I will put it under thriller because the main narrative arc was gripping and drove most of the story.

Agreed 👍

boaty& can we add On The Verge of Insanity ) ?
YES This is probs in my Top 5 ever.
Don't bother with LFM&D 😳

I’ve made all the additions already requested. Anything for the shit list?

I have plans later and didn’t want the craic to grind to a halt while I’m out, so here is thread 32 ready to go once this one is full:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/4519986-MsLatt-s-Daebak-Cybercaf-Kdrama-addicts-32-Spring-is-in-the-air-it-s-blossom-season-and-the-BinJin-wedding-was-lovely-Happiness-abounds?watched=1

This Twitter thread will sort you out for BinJin wedding spam Sakura twitter.com/EdelweissPH_FC/status/1509391894777892866?t=1YvxlEUgwrMmStRvYfdZyw&s=19

[quote boatyardblues]I have plans later and didn’t want the craic to grind to a halt while I’m out, so here is thread 32 ready to go once this one is full:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/4519986-MsLatt-s-Daebak-Cybercaf-Kdrama-addicts-32-Spring-is-in-the-air-it-s-blossom-season-and-the-BinJin-wedding-was-lovely-Happiness-abounds?watched=1[/quote]
Excellent use of "craic", Boaty.

FedUp approved ✅

"Son Ye Jin walked down the aisle to the tune of Moon River."

OMO ME TOO!!

@boatyardblues

I’ve made all the additions already requested. Anything for the shit list?

39 surely?

I get the sentiment, but 39 is actually a quality show IF (big if) you want a downer and 16 hours’ assured miserablist wallowing. If SYJ has time out now for little BinJins it would be the worst farewell show. What on Earth was she thinking?*

• PPL maternity pay scheme aside.

Is it too early for Business Proposal to go on the list? Binged 3 episodes today and didn't realise that it hadn't all aired yet. Gutted to have to wait, I'm a loving it SO MUCH especially sweet Mr cha with his puppy dog eyes. I tried watching an episode of FLAW to console myself but it's just not as fun.

It’s already there. 😎

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

"Son Ye Jin walked down the aisle to the tune of Moon River."

OMO ME TOO!!

OMO ME THREE!*

(well it was our first dance)
(and in fact turns out SYJ walks in to Can't help falling in love with you on the vids)
(But otherwise)