MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #32): Spring is in the air, it’s blossom season and the BinJin wedding was lovely. Happiness abounds!

[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 actively 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)*
Snowdrop (Disney+)
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)
Pachinko (AppleTV)
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)
Business Proposal (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)
Twenty-five Twenty-one (Netflix)*
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)*

On The Verge of Insanity (Viki)
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, writers, film and music when the mood takes us. We have some ARMY (BTS fans) among our regulars. Some 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!

It’s just the ticket Rowdy. I’m already up and stuck into ep 4. Would recommend if you need a kdrama pick me up after your Polish monsters.

I'm back. BTS were incredible in person! Ask me anything - I went to soundcheck and night 1.

Oh my word! That sounds amazing BlueMooMoo. What were they energy levels like in the venue/stadium?

@boatyardblues

Oh my word! That sounds amazing BlueMooMoo. What were they energy levels like in the venue/stadium?

Unbelievable! There were so many costumes - a whole horde of super tuna fanboys. Everyone came to have a really good time. Even when the screen broke just before they were due to start ON, everyone was just waiting patiently and cheering.

In terms of the members - Joon has such charisma and energy on stage. Jimin seemed very muted during soundcheck and then at times during the concert. I wondered if he was feeling a bit under the weather. He still performed beautifully - there was this gut feeling he seemed a bit detached.
Suga is a fucking knock out in person. I was blown away. He is drop dead gorgeous.

Oh wow! How exciting BlueMooMoo !!!!!!
What was your favourite song they did?

Oops I hadn't realised there was an expert ongoing KDrama thread.... I feel like I've broken etiquette by starting something about a specific show...
Ok wise ones what do you recommend for me once I finish Business Proposal? I started Descendants of the Sun after being obsessed with CLOY, but was left meh, even though I understand it was more popular in Korea.
I liked the first episode but found the doctor a bit lacklustre.

Welcome DaggerIsle! 👋 Our opening post is a combined and growing list of everything we’ve rated and is a good place to start. If you give us a bit more info about your preferences (male lead ‘type’, dynamic with female lead, humour preferences, tolerance levels for genre mash-ups etc) we can make more specific recommendations.

Her Private Life is a classic, by the way.

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Oh wow! How exciting BlueMooMoo !!!!!! What was your favourite song they did?

I mean Black Swan is always the queen, but in terms of surprise and joy on the night it had to be Home. I can not wait until the English trio stop being played at every concert.

Hi DaggerIsle and welcome.

I can recommend Suspicious Partner for you to watch after Business Proposal starring the beautiful Ji Chang Wook.

I’m loving Start Up by the way. I was supposes to be doing (vague wave) house stuff today but I’ve made good progress through Start Up instead. (Looks at cobwebs and dust bunnies and weeps)

boatyardblues the thing with housework is you do some and then six months later, you have to do it again.

After all the recommendations on here, I am watching Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and finding it really sweet. I might try Start Up next.

Suga is a fucking knock out in person. I was blown away. He is drop dead gorgeous.
I knew he would be BlueMooMoo , sounds like an amazing concert, are younot a fan of their English language songs? I feel the same, I hope they return to the style of their older songs in the near future! I hope they announce a world tour soon 🤞

Hi Daggerisle, welcome to the thread, I second the suggestion of Suspicious Partners, although there are so many good ones to choose from!

I need a new show to recommend to DH, he prefers darker more serious shows. Any suggestions?

@Rowdythree

Suga is a fucking knock out in person. I was blown away. He is drop dead gorgeous. I knew he would be BlueMooMoo , sounds like an amazing concert, are younot a fan of their English language songs? I feel the same, I hope they return to the style of their older songs in the near future! I hope they announce a world tour soon 🤞

Hi Daggerisle, welcome to the thread, I second the suggestion of Suspicious Partners, although there are so many good ones to choose from!

I need a new show to recommend to DH, he prefers darker more serious shows. Any suggestions?

Honestly it took me by surprise. I mean I definitely have moments where I've thought he was gorgeous but I wasn't expecting him to take my breath away like that. The minimal makeup, the fresh washed hair, the all black fit - he was killing it. Tae was sooooo thin in real life. Waif like.

Not a fan at all of the English trio although butter is the best of the bunch. I'm excited for their new album which I'm hoping is more traditional BTS and that the rapline get their chance to shine again!

@Rowdythree

Suga is a fucking knock out in person. I was blown away. He is drop dead gorgeous. I knew he would be BlueMooMoo , sounds like an amazing concert, are younot a fan of their English language songs? I feel the same, I hope they return to the style of their older songs in the near future! I hope they announce a world tour soon 🤞

Hi Daggerisle, welcome to the thread, I second the suggestion of Suspicious Partners, although there are so many good ones to choose from!

I need a new show to recommend to DH, he prefers darker more serious shows. Any suggestions?

Honestly it took me by surprise. I mean I definitely have moments where I've thought he was gorgeous but I wasn't expecting him to take my breath away like that. The minimal makeup, the fresh washed hair, the all black fit - he was killing it. Tae was sooooo thin in real life. Waif like.

Not a fan at all of the English trio although butter is the best of the bunch. I'm excited for their new album which I'm hoping is more traditional BTS and that the rapline get their chance to shine again!

Glad you're enjoying Start Up boaty! I loved it. The first episode is like a tragic film though. I ugly cried at that. NJH is adorable in it. Knitting geek. Nam Do-San 🥰 The advert Samsan Tech make was a particular highlight for me.

I'm tearing through Business Proposal and love that the second lead couple are breaking all the K drama conventions!

Checking in! How are we all doing? Managed to sneak in episode 2 of Our Blues today as it is raining here in Hotland. I'm loving it.

Has My Liberation Notes fared well so far?

sakura06 I think I loved the second lead couple even better than the first in Business Proposal. The dimples had a lot to do with it.

Watching first episode of new Derry Girls FedUp and suddenly seeing a whole load of 25/21 parallels 😂.

NJH’s business partners are idiots but it seems deliberately so to provide the comic relief.

Wow, just catching up on episode 4 of Pachinko. So beautiful and moving.

I’m really behind with Pachinko because we’re at DH pace and he’s working lots of overtime at the mo.

The amount of PPL in Start Up is up there with 39’s. I’m amazed they’ve managed to fit a story in around it. 😂 The big lie is bothering me. It won’t end well.

Metheven my DH much prefers the second couple! I'm enjoying both stories but admit the second couple have amazing chemistry!

Boaty I think all of Samsan Tech lack the business acumen (apart from Dal-mi). They're just adorable geeks!

Pol, Boatyard Prestel I''ve only seen about 10 K-dramas in full so far, over the last year or so 🤔 A mix of the newest and 'classics'. 3 currently on the go, and 3 more lined up. Maybe Song Kang will impress me less when I've got more to compare him to😂

I loved Tang Jun-sang and Lee Je-hoon in Move to Heaven (came to that via the glorious CLOY, looking for more TJS). So Signal is on my list too.

Blue Your post about PTD LV has given me concert fever. I was still all 'I like them but don't need to see them live' till pretty recently. But went to the live PTD cinema broadcast (100% joy 😃) and am now poised like a raptor for a tour announcement 😂. They were due to perform v close to here in 2020, so 👀. Sod's Law says it will be when we're on holiday in the UK though 🙄 I definitely have my sights on VIP tickets 😃. DH, while generally very understanding of my varied Korean passions, is totally perplexed 😁