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 sad I've not had a BTS dream for ages, I'm v jealous

There’s a new ‘tile’ for My Liberation Notes on my Netflix homepage today with Gu in a smart coat and dark top. He’s giving off a serious boss man vibe. It reminded me of the comment one of the people that recognised at the petrol station him made, something along the lines of ‘why would he be working for someone else?’ What do we think his background is? I think more than a simple thug. I wondered about crime kingpin, or an enforcer for a kingpin. Equally, could we being misled?

Thanks boatyardblues. Does the tea and sympathy come with hobnobs?

I wondered if Shitting Stars was any good so decided to check the reviews.....how come no one here has mentioned the controversy it's generating?

kbizoom.com/lee-sung-kyung-kim-young-dae-shooting-stars-under-fire-racist-playing-off-sexual-harassment/

Ah, I can see how that would have been picked up by an international audience. I’ll confess I don’t spend much time reading reviews. Interesting that FL is slated as not being able to carry a show. I thought she acquitted herself pretty decisively with Weightlifting Fairy. 🤷‍♀️ I agree the ML’s acting ability is less stellar than his abs.

These thoughts had crossed my mind whilst I was watching it today. I hadn't read any of the reviews though, I tend not to read reviews (only on here 😁)

I don't think the acting is terrible, it's okay for the type of drama it is. The PPL is out of this world though!

Boaty I was wondering about Gu's background too, my first thought was he was from a Chaebol family, but he definitely seems like he could be involved in the criminal world. I hope he's not too dodgy 🤞

Boaty I was wondering about Gu's background too, my first thought was he was from a Chaebol family, but he definitely seems like he could be involved in the criminal world. I hope he's not too dodgy 🤞

I've been thinking about Gu's character lots lately. He enjoys hard labour in the fields so much that he does it for free. To escape from his other life? To repent? Or, just to delay drinking??

Rowdy we're back home now, but I see there's a Forbidden Planet in London too. So it's on the list for a future visit 👍🏻🙂

Metheven 😂* *in one of my dreams an air alarm went off and then there was this ominous far-off rumbling noise. Jin and Namjoon looked to me as if to ask what it was. I had no idea, so looked over to my old chingu Yoongi, who was sitting at a computer with his back to us. He half-turned round and gestured silently, Godfather-style, that all was well and there was nothing to worry about. At that point I woke up as DH was snoring loudly 🤔😁 I feel your pain.

TheGirl I'm sending vibes your way 🤞. I have in the past gone weeks without a nutty dream, wondered where they'd gone, and then BOOM a one night three-parter. Fingers crossed. Hwaiting!

No time for any K-dramas at all these last few weeks, so my backlog's growing. But there's an Asian film festival here soon with a number of Korean titles, so hope to make up some lost ground then.

Chaebol? Interesting theory Rowdy. What made you think that?

I think Mr Gu was a right hand man to "Mr Baek" but he betrayed him in some way and now he is (very badly) hiding from him. I also think he has killed at least one person, maybe one that he shouldn't have by accident, and he's repenting/drinking.

Showdown with black suit/bad shirt gangsters forthcoming.

Yeah, the people who recognise him dress like gangsters, not chaebol hangers-on. Thanks for those details FedUp.

I think A LOT about Mr Gu. More than my own husband.

I think it was earlier in the series when we found out that he had paid a year's rent in advance, plus the little snippets we see of him on the train he's wearing quite smart clothes, not a gangster suit or garish shirt. At first I thought he was just running away from a mistake he had made and was drinking to forget it

However, it does seem like he's involved in something dodgy, and the people who recognised him did look thuggish 🤔 he seems like a decent bloke though, so I don't know!

I'm rather jealous of all the fun BTS dreams, but as I'm not really into them I don't think I'll be having any of my own. I quite like the band who did an OST for Nevertheless - Say Sue Me - but as their last video featured someone running around a hill in a dog suit I'm kind of hoping I won't be dreaming about that!

I'm actually struggling to decide what to watch next atm. I'm still watching Tomorrow with DH but have finished Her Private Life (which I enjoyed more than most of the straight romance ones I've seen) and have finally got round to finishing Alice in Borderland (which I first started ages ago with DH) and am now really looking forward to the new series as it was very good (probably better than Squid Game tbh).

I've also just finished Full House which I downloaded onto my phone a while back when it was mentioned on here and have slowly been working my way through every time I've been waiting to pick DD up in the car (which happens a lot 😁). Incidentally "Baby Rain" is a perfect description for the man child he plays in that show - thankfully ML characters seem to have improved slightly in the last decade or so.

Annyeong Chingu

I am back almost after a month … so much to catchup.
I was hoping to start with 25/21 & Business proposal but seen the spoilers and not in a mood of 25/21 atm.

Hope you all are well & enjoying dramas.

Another Min Yoongi fan 🙋🏻‍♀️.

No dreams yet but quite often I think, what if one day on our way back from after school activity (another town and have to drive through field on a narrow country side roads), boys hitch hike with me & DS. As they got separated during filming of Bon Voyage. There is space for only 3 in the car so I am not greedy or picky. Hopefully one of them is RM for easy English/Korean translation.

ps: I hate this new look, not sure if it’s MN update or my iOS.

Hello @JinBhoot i was thinking we hadn't seen you in here recently, I hope you are well 👋 Business Proposal is a good easy watch

Thank goodness I have finished Well Intended Love. Never want to see that again. It may have put me off cdramas for life.

@Saram13 that is hilarious. My DH can often sound like a jumbo jet landing, so I feel your pain. Have you forgiven your DH yet?

Annyeong Jin, hope you are well x

👋👋👋 hi Jin , sounds like an excellent day dream 😍

Metheven yes, DH is forgiven 🙂 I've woken him up laughing at my own dreams (BTS-themed and otherwise), so it cuts both ways 😁

JinBhoot 🙋‍♀️ I sometimes daydream about bumping into the chaps in town. Or what I'd do if the doorbell went and it was one of them. My actual dreams have involved Jimin serving me in a sandwich shop (in full stage attire, including wafty top and jangly earrings 😂), Namjoon waving to me from his bike, and chatting with Yoongi on his doorstep 😻

Saram13 you are more forgiving than me. I will hold a grudge for missing out on my JCW dream until the day I die😂

Jin! 👋 Lovely to see you back. It’s not your phone - MN moved us to a new platform a couple of weekends ago & this version was what emerged after the downtime. The wailing and gnashing about the change is just starting to die down. 😄

I am not good at keeping up at the mo, plus I’m starting to meet up with friends more now we’re coming out of the pandemic. It’s hampering my kdrama viewing.

I think you're all straying into fanfic territory!!!! 😳😱😂

Comeback Album announcement!!! sooo exciting.. will be an Anthology!!! I can only dream about all the possibilities!!! All those remixes / live versions / demos / soundcloud goodies / hidden tracks ... I'm hoping for Ddaeng and Otsukare!!! 😂waiting to hear which UK stores will be stocking to count for uk charts... it looks hideously expensive... 😭...buuut....

An excellent idea...as an astute tiktoker has pointed out... it looks more likely they will enlist together and why would they bring out brand new album which they can't tour / perform? ... so bring out an anthology and with lots of goodies!!!! and three new tracks!!! Fabulous!!!!! 💜

Kdrama wise... I'm thoroughly enjoying S**ting Stars... it's not that badly acted and Lee Sung-kyung is perfectly good in teh role... she carried WLFKBJ and Dr Rom2 perfectly well... I think it's just neitezens getting their knickers in a twist!!! 😫

I've strayed a little off kdrama the last couple of days!!! - Forgive Me! (surely not!!! after almost 3 and a half years of 95% kdrama)... been giggling and revelling in the wickedness and passive agression of Mapp and Lucia on Amazon Prime! It's one of my faves and haven't watched it for ages... It's soooo delicious! If you need light relief and a break from concentrating on subs... I highly recommend!!!! 😍

After seeing a recommendation on reddit, I've just finished Ep1 of Love at Play and it looks like a keeper 😍Will decide later on Sh**ting Stars.