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!

MigsandTiggs I think they deserved their own series.

I’ve been busy the last couple of days, so bot much kdrama time. I’m now up to the end of ep 15 of Start Up. I’m saving the finale for tonight, with my feet up and a glass of wine. I have to commemt on the punch up in ep 12 though: unedifying, toxic masculinity at it’s worst. I was disappointed in the characters involved.

Oh I seem to be exchanging coins for coins again and it's all Bettys fault AGAIN 🙄😍 (Til Debt Do Us Part)

🤷🏻‍♀️ Sorry polkettle what can I say? 😈

I have a long long list of toons I am reading so I can keep track but it’s very difficult across 4 platforms with different currency I each! Except Manta which is a monthly payment that I keep meaning to cancel then new good ‘uns crop up.

Looking forward to catching up on Pachinko & Our Blues

If ever there was a time for those little bottles of hangover drinks, it's this morning 😖

I'm loving all the waste/power plant/ secret bunker talk!

I'm only up to ep4 of Start Up, you've really whizzed through it Boaty. I'm going to nurse my hangover and watch it now in bed, hopefully DH will bring me a cup of tea ☕

Rowdy I hope your hangover clears quickly. Fighting!
I'm sat in the garden in the sunshine pretending I don't have to go to work in an hour 😢🌞
I have just watched a squirrel eat a mini egg that DS dropped though, which was v cute.
Hopefully chocolate isn't poisonous to them 🐿️

Metheven and Tigs I really like the second leads too. Mr 2ML has such a lovely voice. I bet he gets lots of voice-over work.

Rowdy sorry to hear about the hangover. I hope it is easing. I also feel dreadful on three hours of sleep, two bottles of beer and two creme eggs. But I did get to see a great concert despite having crap internet and BTS also announced a new album! Yay!

TheGirl I hope work goes OK! A squirrel eating a mini egg is very funny

I think I'm going to treat myself to the last episode of Business Proposal after supervising an Easter egg hunt.

I'M HOME!!! Ready to overdose on K-dramas and catch up on chat 💃

Welcome back Briiiiick!

My hangover is subsiding now I'm out in the fresh air, I couldn't even watch any K drama this morning, so I'm looking forward to getting home and chilling out in front of Start Up

@MusiqueAutomatique

I'm off to bed for a nap. As well as getting up to watch BTS at 3.30am, I also have a real life show to go to tonight. I am going to be a zombie tomorrow.

This is very intriguing? Being a zombie???

Do any current dramas seem like they will end well? I'm a little traumatised by 25/21 now! Our Blues is probably the number 1 thing I'm keen to see.

I am now officially a Bin Collector and I'm adding Kim Woo-Bin to my line up of delightful Bins.

@polkettle

I am now officially a Bin Collector and I'm adding Kim Woo-Bin to my line up of delightful Bins.

But... when is bin day?

Have YOU 👈 put your Bin out?

Have you gone as far as a new cardboard version Bin Pol? 🕴️

No, there will only ever be room in my heart for one cardboard oppa. I will remain faithful to Mr Binn for... (thinks about KDrama True Love standards)...at least 900 years. Although it's probably as well he wasn't around when I met cardboard Stanley Tucci who lives up the road.
#EveryDayisBinDay FedUp as you know. Although particularly Saturday and Sunday currently.

For my fellow HP nerds this ongoing Twitter thread from someone watching for the first time is the best thing ever.
twitter.com/keira_dominguez/status/1513885542110355465?t=5z0yd50cK-D5Pz8Lxjr_Ew&s=19

Morning all, I've been busy with pesky guests and spent the last 48hrs cooking/entertaining my socks off. Day to recharge and catch up on my dramas now🤓. I've already caught up on LFM&D which has not disappointed on the totally bonkers front.
Our Blues next. Anyone else want to shake ML? So blinkered on his finances for his daughter it's annoying me so much. Lovely Lee Jung-Eun's acting always keeps me glued, her nuanced expressions are 💯
Hope everyone had a super Easter/Passover.

[quote polkettle]For my fellow HP nerds this ongoing Twitter thread from someone watching for the first time is the best thing ever.
twitter.com/keira_dominguez/status/1513885542110355465?t=5z0yd50cK-D5Pz8Lxjr_Ew&s=19[/quote]
So cute!

Episode 3 of Our Blues was excellent, the acting was so good when they were in the hotel 👌 I'm really enjoying the format of this show

[quote polkettle]For my fellow HP nerds this ongoing Twitter thread from someone watching for the first time is the best thing ever.
twitter.com/keira_dominguez/status/1513885542110355465?t=5z0yd50cK-D5Pz8Lxjr_Ew&s=19[/quote]
Spot on about Lady-Parts 😂😂😂

With regard to Bin Collection - rl chingu has shared this from Goblin 😁

What a fine collection of bins, makes my bog standard green, black and brown bins seem rather dull 😆

I'm finding Start Up rather tense! I wasn't expecting that, what on earth is her sisters problem though! Jeez

I finished it earlier Rowdy. Very enjoyable and interesting too.

Tuesday distraction is the "story" of this photo shoot.
www.instagram.com/p/CchBdMmp4KV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The rockin’ abs/dainty little man bag combo is confusing me Pol.