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!

Sakura if you delete and re load the app on your mobile it rectifies itself.

So I've just watched todays LFM&D. It's getting more bonkers if that is at all possible?! Newlyweds spending first night together doing what you ask? What every newly weds do on their 'first night' Cleaning out the grooms ear wax whilst he has a nap 🫢
Meanwhile the brides children are spending their first night with their Grandfather and discussing farting at dinner.
Seems now that the possessed wife of the lawyer (who's married him twice) is now pregnant so the plans for exorcism will have to be put on hold. It's so bad it's so addictive. I luvs it 🤪. Now starting our Blues then Liberation...

Pausing to chuckle at the two blokes from the Liberation Club standing outside the stationery store. The divorcé is like a great dane next to the other guy’s chihuahua. The casting is inspired.

I’m now convinced Mr Lottery is developing an interest in Lee El’s character. It’s such a funny relationship. She doesn’t even see him, which I suspect is the draw. 😄

boatyardblues I shall definitely give Oh My Venus a go, I think it has been on my watch list for a while. Not sure a biscuit Nazi is my kind of man, to be honest, but I shall be open minded.

Hello all, the reboot totally threw me too, AND somehow logged me out 🙄. So password faffing ensued. Back on track now. Hwaiting!

Not much to report here. Except, my soju flavour recommendation of the week is grapefruit 🍹Particularly excellent on the rocks 😀I got the pineapple one too, to try making a pseudo pina colada with coconut milk. But it was disappointingly disgusting 🤔😂

Highlights of my week were seeing a Gong Yoo lookalike in the tram (I mean, he REALLY looked like a late-20s GY, it was uncanny). I might have stared a bit 🙈And having a conversation with my teacher today about mid-2000s male fashion in Korea. Apparently it is universally acknowledged as a low point in recent sartorial history 😁

This photo in our study book prompted the discussion. I said the hair reminded me of Coffee Prince 😀 (book dates from 2006, so makes sense).

boatyardblues I shall definitely give Oh My Venus a go, I think it has been on my watch list for a while. Not sure a biscuit Nazi is my kind of man, to be honest, but I shall be open minded.
☝️
I don't find many actors attractive Metheven. SJS in OMV awakened my teenage crush cell for sure. It was my first KDrama and now DH asks me every time I start a new drama "is SJS in this one?🫶"

SJS gets in the tub naked and he is fiiiiiiiiiine Metheven, if that helps give you the necessary push. Sung Hoon is also in it as a MMA fighter and he’s not shabby either. There is so much to enjoy in Oh My Venus.

Sold😂 I'm breaking out the apple soju and here I go.

I don't find many actors attractive Metheven. SJS in OMV awakened my teenage crush cell for sure

Is it just me, I find them nearly all very attractive😳(not all, and some more than others) 😬

I really wanted to watch OLN today, but ds and his friend shouting at their computer screens didn't set the right vibe for me. I'll have to get up early in the morning and watch it before anyone else gets up. It's definitely my favourite show of the moment.

Pol I must have missed that you're watching You're Beautiful, will you be joining us in the Hwang Tae Kyung fan club? 😄

I don't find many actors attractive Metheven. SJS in OMV awakened my teenage crush cell for sure

It was Ji Chang Wook that did it for me, AesopsMables

Our Blues very sad 😢
I think this show is going to be best watched weekly as it's getting deep.

My Liberation Notes what a superb show this is. The juxtaposition of the sultry hot countryside scenes next to the Seoul office/ bar scenes is so clever. Characters are all fabulously developing. It's reminding me of Melo weirdly.

I love My Liberation Notes too. The character development is very gentle, like My Mister’s. I agree about the rural/urban juxtaposition, but also office work vs manual and agricultural labour and the noisy extraverts vs introverts giving it additional layers. The stifling summer heat seems somehow more relentless in the countryside where the AC is more limited. I’m all still smiling over the establishment of a Liberation Club as a FU to the Joy Club woman.

One question. Given the Korean drinking culture, how can they tell Mr Gu is an alcoholic?

Is it cos he's got no dried squid?

@Rowdythree 😁

First up, LOL. Second, possibly it’s because he drinks alone. Most of the drunk scenes I remember have involved being sociable, preferably with multiple rounds and a couple of hours at a noraebang.

My friend just got Netflix. I recommended Mr Sunshine last night. She texted earlier to say she’s loved ep 1 so much she was just starting ep 2. 🙂

Oh, I forgot weeping into soju with a friend in one of those roadside tent restaurants (name escapes me).

Is it just me, I find them nearly all very attractive😳(not all, and some more than others)

I find most of them extremely attractive. I wish I was 30 years younger so I could go to Korea and find a handsome boyfriend.
I’m sorry to say I follow quite a few of them on Instagram. My children would be mortified if they knew.

Boaty. You are a queen. But on this matter I must insist on the lack of snacks being the indicator of alcohol addiction.

Imagine the interventions... just firing crisps at their head.

we are all filthy noonas here

Yep, filthy noona reporting in. 🙋‍♀️

We were out & about en famille over Easter and were queuing with a very handsome young SE Asian man ahead of us. He was about 6’2”, late 20s, immaculately turned out in a tailored full length coat, slim black jeans and ankle boots. We kept seeing him around the venue at the start of our visit. DS (budding fashion snob) mentioned “that guy in the queue” over lunch, saying how much he’d admired his outfit and how sharp he looked. I agreed, saying he was oppa fabulous and would not have looked out of place in the CEO’s office in a kdrama. 🤣

What happened after the police released you after jumping on his back?

I am very much of the admire respectfully from a distance but no touching wing of the filthy noonas. Much as it pains me to say this, if SJS or Gong Yoo ever did turn up to a pub meet I would probably be struck mute.

Just checking in with my filthy noona chingus. Good title for next thread!

also of the admire no touchy branch, though I find my early entry Oppa tastes have changed, or maybe matured eg have totally lost interest in Ji Chang Wook

(still sulking about MN reboot in semi flouncy huffy way)

Same here. 30 years younger & single I’d be off like a shot!