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!

I'm another one not enjoying the new mumsnet! 😐

I just caught up with Our Blues ep 4, I want to live in Kim Woo Bin's bus! So cosy and perfectly situated! Now I'm caught up with that, I can start My Liberation Notes Yay for new dramas!

Last night I started a book that Pol recommended a while a go - If I had your Face, within the first few pages mixing soju and yakult was mentioned. I can't tell if it's a genius idea, or really gross, but I'm just surprised it hasn't cropped up in a drama before now, given how popular both drinks are 😁

Dare I say that I would watch this over Our Blues !!

I feel the same, though I am also enjoying Our Blues. It’s unusual to have two such high quality, grown up slice of life shows going head to head on the same broadcast schedule. It smacks of Netflix not having much of a clue about what they’ve got on their hands.

Re the new layout, I don’t much like having our War & Peace cumulative list OP on every damned page. Ah well.

Ooh - I'll be interested to hear what you think Rowdy - both of book and yakult with soju...
Soju and banana milk could work too I reckon.

"Worship me"

What a speech from Kim Ji-won in ep2 of My Liberation Notes

Goosebumps...

@boatyardblues

Dare I say that I would watch this over Our Blues !!

I feel the same, though I am also enjoying Our Blues. It’s unusual to have two such high quality, grown up slice of life shows going head to head on the same broadcast schedule. It smacks of Netflix not having much of a clue about what they’ve got on their hands.

Re the new layout, I don’t much like having our War & Peace cumulative list OP on every damned page. Ah well.

Two brilliant dramas in the My Mister vein. Makes up for that Jan and Feb drought!

Bah humbug! The reboot has also messed up my formatting in the OP and turned our asterisked faves bold, plus renumbered the last 2 years’ top rated shows. Damn you MN techs!

@boatyardblues

Bah humbug! The reboot has also messed up my formatting in the OP and turned our asterisked faves bold, plus renumbered the last 2 years’ top rated shows. Damn you MN techs!

This upgrades's an absolute clusterfuck. Have they never heard of UI or UX? Testing?

Honestly, makes me so cross...

I definitely would join the Liberation Club.

That workplace is very stifling!!!

I’m in too. My kind of club.

What's going on? Everything has changed. Ooooh 😂😃😉😎😁emojis.

Anyone watching Again My Life on Viki!... It's got me hooked! Prosecutor gets murdered trying to take down very dodgy Assemblyman... Given the chance to go back in time to take him down!... It's good and quite compelling... Although the narrating is a bit annoying! And a peculiar choice of using Jupiter as stirring music in key dramatic moments! 🤣🙄🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

That sounds good @Bea , I haven't watched anything on Viki for ages. I started Dali and Happiness then got distracted by all the good stuff on Netflix. I might have to wander back over to Viki...

Bea I saw the first 2 episodes which I rather enjoyed

(Still hating this MN layout in spite of emojis 😩😱😖😡

@LarryUnderwood

That sounds good @Bea , I haven't watched anything on Viki for ages. I started Dali and Happiness then got distracted by all the good stuff on Netflix. I might have to wander back over to Viki...

Dali is good. Stick with it 👍

This made me laugh this morning.
twitter.com/chaesoohyuns/status/1516802203742203910?t=wV1L0YMswhXyV1HF05SN6A&s=19

Haha!!

I want to live in the part of Korea that considers you youthful until age 49! 😆

I've had to reload the app as none of my posts were loading TEST

OK. Now I can chat.
Started Run On last night but after 2 eps I'm not keen. Does it get better? I feel ML & FL have no chemistry and the acting seems stilted. I need a huge slice of life binge but think I have exhausted this genre?!

The chemistry improves Aesops but there's a LOT of businessy business business montages. It's very much in the satisfactory but not essential category.
I'm doing You're Beautiful as perfect counter balance to OB and MLN. So many top knots and cowl necks! Loving it.

Sorry. Mixing my Run On with my Start Up. Run On less good than Start Up imo. Too many characters and some sections actually incomprehensible. Quite liked the leads chat but agree their chemistry not all that

Started Run On last night but after 2 eps I'm not keen. Does it get better? I feel ML & FL have no chemistry and the acting seems stilted. I need a huge slice of life binge but think I have exhausted this genre?!

don't think it gets much better Aesops but opinion was divided on this.

Aaaargh I am not coping with this new format 😡

I liked Run On because the FL was fruitloop quirky and the ML was not your usual ML, kind of socially awkward and introverted. There were bits that I found completely incomprehensible, like the translator had a disastrous day or the concepts/emotions they were trying to convey were so culturally grounded in SK and/or nuanced that it didn’t travel at all. Baffling is the word that comes to mind. However, I mostly enjoyed it and looked forwards to it each week though I know that view was not widely held by fellow addicts.

Diverted into He's Expecting - new JDrama about male pregnancy on Netflix which has been targeted by Angry Men as being "woke" today but is mainly just a bit of a bonkers Webtoon giggle so far.

Spooky. I just fired up Netflix & this bobbed up, so I came here to ask if anyone was watching it. Is it any good?