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!

[quote TheGirlWithTheArabStrap]@bettys I didn't realize Chinese hopping vampires were an actual thing. I just thought it was an odd character in Zombie Detective (it could be another drama, I can't remember 😅)
@Bea I hadn't really thought about photo cards having a resale value 🤔 I could definitely get DH into thinking it's less mad to have them if there's an eBay trade involved ( he loves eBay)[/quote]
Oh yes!!!! when i was younger me and my sister had a favourite chinese film we used to watch which had loads of hopping vampires/zombies... my mum said that's how they used to play monsters when she was younger... just like in the western world we put our arms out and "frankenstein" it for representation of monster/ghoul... my mum said they had arms out and hopped... she said you ward them off with sticky rice as opposed to garlic! 😂😂😂

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap I've got this!!!!

£230!!! on Ebay!!!!

Wow Bea you're just a very savvy investor 😊
I haven't got that many but just had a little check and none of them are valuable 😅

Wow Bea! Amazing 👏 I wonder if DD has got any valuable stuff, she'd probably prefer the cold hard cash these days.

Nah!!!! Not an investor... I just love the merch! Although can be expensive they are soooo beautiful and then they come with sooo much stuff!!!!... photocards / stickers / bookmarks / frames / transparent Photocards... and then if you get a Jimin or JK... you know they'll be sought after!... though I'm not doing it for that!... some people are sooo obsessed with collecting they'll buy numberous copies of the albums ... just for the photocards... loads of albums get sold on ebay with "no photocard"... If I were =going to get One album... The BE album (deluxe) packaging is just gorgeous!!!! sooooo much stuff and soooo lovely!!!

Jin and Rowdy 👋🙂

And nice to see another newbie Migs! I also love Korean cooking. My copy of the Korean Vegan looks like I've had it for years instead of a couple of months. I'm immensely lucky to live in a city with a specialist Korean supermarket that also sells fresh banchan and beer from Hangang brewery, as well as soju etc.

Bea As a horror afficiando I definitely need hopping Chinese vampires/zombies in my life. AMAZING. This is definitely the thread that keeps giving 😁

Bea and TheGirl Apart from one J-Hope photocard and SG 2022 magnet I always get the vocal line, whereas I'm more rap--line-inclined. Ah well. We all have our cross to bear. Remarkable what people are prepared to pay for these things though 😲

K-drama (and its somehow wholesome shower scenes) certainly saved my sanity over the last 18 months. Hallyu has also livened up my sartorial choices. I immensely enjoy playing the 'Would BTS wear this?' game every morning 😁 (still working at home, so no need to wonder whether my colleagues are ready for dragon-patterned dungarees 🤔).

Hello Saram13 and MigsandTiggs welcome to you both.

@sakura06 and @Rowdythree that puts a totally different spin onto the lovely and caring boyfriend from Strong Woman Bong Soon doesn't it? Verging into red flag territory, if you ask me. Hmm, has definitely tainted the series for me.

It is so lovely to read all the recommendations on this thread, my list of must sees is getting longer and longer.

Re Bong Soon - I'm not sure I get the issue with the tracker device in the necklace thing, wasn't it part of a plan they came up with together? It wasn't exactly clear, but I just assumed it was a poor storytelling/poor editing thing rather than him tracking her without her knowledge. I haven't seen it in a while, though, so don't remember that well.

Prestel I took it as he gave her a necklace as a present, but hadn't told her there was a tracker in there.

Finished FLAW... And hate to say it! Last two eps were good!! Proper ending of a drama... Pacey... Tied up neatly! A better ending ep than... Dare I say it... 21 25 And BP!... 🤯🤯🤯 Can't believe I'm saying that! 😱😱... Much more satisfying!... It needs to be said..

Tomorrow... Although the bullying storyline / depiction was really awful... I did a bit of skippittydoohdahing!... I'm enjoying it and look forward to more eps! Reminds me a little of Uncanny Counter

Have dived back into School Nurse... It's truly whacko... I feel like I'm at the Hellmouth and waiting for Buffy and scooby gang to turn up! 😂😂

Whats the best twisty crime/thriller series to start with ? Something that grips from the start as I tend to give up quickly if they don't !!

Healer?... Not many twists! But a complete and utter classic!
Come and Hug Me (Netflix)... Tragic and gruesome but great!!

Stranger is the perfect thriller/crime drama

I feel like I'm at the Hellmouth and waiting for Buffy and scooby gang to turn up! 😂😂

See, now that makes me want to watch it!! Plus NJH obvs

Whats the best twisty crime/thriller series to start with ?

My Name on Netflix, plus I also second Healer and Stranger

@sakura06 and @Rowdythree that puts a totally different spin onto the lovely and caring boyfriend from Strong Woman Bong Soon doesn't it? Verging into red flag territory, if you ask me. Hmm, has definitely tainted the series for me.

Well I am just going to pretend I don't know, and that generous Mr Ahn put a big blingy stone in the necklace as I've thought for the last few years.😁

It is about 5 years old now, and K dramas have improved their male characters since then. There are a lot of dramas that showed wrist grabbing, forceful, controlling male characters, but you don't see it so much lately.

Rowdythree perhaps that is the best thing, go with your original thoughts.

I have noticed that in the older dramas the males characters are a lot more forceful. Glad that they are a bit more realistic now.

Metheven It was a bit of a clumsy and not very well explained plot device to get the ML to the right place at the right time but the overarching storyline of the last couple of episodes was the three of them working together to catch the bad guy - hence my assumption it was part of a worked out plan they were all in on. Having said that, Korea isn't exactly a very feminist country so your interpretation could well be right as the scriptwriters probably wouldn't think her lack of knowledge of it as a problem. For me, though, Bong Soon is unquestionably the star of the show and the two men in her life mere supporting acts and her supernatural strength easily balances out what could otherwise have been an unequal relationship so I can't get too hung up on one possibly dodgy moment. I think it's a shame it spoiled it for you as what I liked about the show was the cultural differences and way it did things and featured themes mashed up together in a way you just wouldn't get in a British or American show.

Re:hopping vampires, try Mr Vampire, its a classic of the genre. Years ago I went out with a British Chinese bloke and we used to compare old childhood favourites of telly and food, cos they were so different, Mr Vampire was one we watched together and its a hoot. Very dated/of it's time but still very fun.

I hate to disappoint TheGirl, Bea and Saram (welcome to you and Migs by the way!) but there was no way I could justify spending thirty quid on each album so I own boring digital downloads and DH's copy of LY:Tear which he gave me. I will gradually get the cds for birthdays and Christmas I think. The only merch I really like are the fan made enamel pins. I can justify those as they are small and don't take up much space.

The idea of hopping, scared of sticky rice vampires is really interesting Bea. I must do some reading up on that. There was an In Our Time on Radio 4 this morning on vampires in the western literary tradition which was fascinating. It would have been good if they'd widened their focus to the hopping kind too though.

Jinbhoot the only disadvantage to a kdrama-type shower scenes is having to wear a soggy towel round your waist whilst you are in it

@workshy44

Whats the best twisty crime/thriller series to start with ? Something that grips from the start as I tend to give up quickly if they don't !!

How are you with gore and/or violence? All of the following are excellent but dark:

My Name - revenge thriller, great female lead
The Lies Within - political thriller with side order of serial killer
Signal AND Tunnel - serial killer police procedurals with time travel element. Tunnel has a lovely warm underbelly but the murders are quite grim.

I'm glad Boaty and Bea are getting into the School Nurse Files, it really is as mad as a box of frogs (or maybe just one very large frog).

How is Bridgerton shaping up Briick?

I'm off to watch ep 1 of Weightlifting Fairy for the first time, I've had it on my watch list forever so I'm rather excited.

Also, the Stranger is a classic, it starts slowly and builds - it might not grab @workshy44. I think I also forgot my manners. Is this your first visit workshy? If so, welcome to the thread! 👋

Musique enjoy Weight lifting fairy, all this talk of watching it makes me want to watch it again. There are some proper laugh out loud moments in it, and some super cringe moments too 🙈

I missed all the talk of hopping zombies, that sounds like something I need to see!

Hi workshy 👋 Beyond Evil is quite gripping from the beginning as, well as the ones Boaty suggests. Let us know which one you go for!

NJH is on the college swim team in Weightlifting Fairy. There is so much to enjoy in that show. 😉