Banana milk, particularly Binggrae banana milk, is an icon of Korea. It could be simplified or blurred to the nth degree but we’d still know what it was… the little yellow bottle that bewitched a nation and the world. 

This is a post seven years in the making, when I first started this series of posts the plan was to do one once a month. For the second post I let the subreddit decide, but only 19% of voters picked banana milk so it was shelved. Fortunately the idea had a longer shelf life than banana milk! 

Of course flavoured milk is not unique to South Korea and there is evidence of various flavours of milk being developed as early as the 1400s. Humans have been experimenting with different ways to make food and drinks more palatable for a long time.

A (Not So) Brief History of Banana Milk

Korea’s journey into creating an iconic world renowned flavoured milk product began over 50 years ago in the early 70’s when the government of Korea was trying to encourage people to increase their milk intake. Consumers were not enticed by plain milk so Binggrae came up with a clever solution, combining milk with a rare taste of banana. 

If you’ve seen Reply 1988 you have probably wondered about how rare and expensive bananas were in Korea in the 70s and 80s. Due to government restrictions and tariffs on fruit imports and bananas not being able to grow naturally in Korea, the combination of the cost to grow bananas in green houses and the small numbers being imported led to bananas being a rarity with a high price tag. At this time most household budgets didn’t allow for such luxuries so when Binggrae released banana milk in June of 1974 it made the flavour of luxury accessible and was a hit with Koreans of all ages. 

From the outset banana milk was sold in a semi-transparent polystyrene bottle, the material chosen to differentiate it from other milk products on the market which were packaged in either glass or plastic and allow consumers to see the bright yellow milk inside. The bottle shape is said to be inspired by moon jars (a traditional storage container in Korea), the design features a ridge around the middle which makes gripping the bottle easier and an overhanging lip to prevent milk dripping onto one's face. This design earned the nickname  “뚱바” (ddung-ba / chubby/fat) or “뚱뚱한 바나나우유” (ddung-ddung-han banana-uyu / chubby/fat banana milk) and over time the design worked its way into the hearts of a nation. So beloved that Binggrae have refused to change the design despite the cost and manpower required to create them. In 2016 Binggrae had the bottle design registered as a trademark and in 2024 when it passed its 50th birthday the company announced their intention to apply for national heritage status. As you can see on this image there have been very minimal changes to the design since the milk being released in 1974, the current design was released in 2004. In 2015 when Reply 1988 was airing Binggrae released a special edition featuring the 1988 design.

The milk itself was very high in milk content at over 80% whole milk which made the drink have a creamy, softer mouth feel that made it easier to drink. Back in the 1970s the flavour of bananas was created artificially and it wasn’t until regulation changes in 2010 led to the company having to choose between changing the name of the product to “banana scented milk” or changing the recipe to include actual bananas. They chose the latter. It took over 100 trials before they found a solution which didn’t change the taste and satisfied the law makers, adding around 1% banana juice to the mix. 

As banana milk integrated its way into the daily lives of Koreans it also found itself a staple in the media of the country. As product placement in dramas became formalised advertisement, Binggrae was featured in many hit dramas which helped banana milk become an icon globally. 

The first Korean wave (Hallyu) saw Korean television being broadcast in China and East Asia. This saw an increase in tourism and interest in products commonly seen in dramas like banana milk. As regular banana milk has a short shelf life and the traditional jar packaging is too fragile to withstand the sterilisation process required for long life milk, alternatives had to be considered so banana milk could go global. In 2007 Binggrae started their global expansion to South East Asian markets. As China was a successful region in 2014 they built their first overseas subsidiary, BC F&B Shanghai Co., Ltd. 

In 2016 Binngrae opened a flagship cafe, “Yellow Cafe” in central Seoul dedicated to Banana Milk, where you could taste all sorts of banana milk flavoured treats and buy a wide range of merchandise. The following year a second “Yellow Cafe” opened on Jeju Island. In the first two years it is reported that around 320,000 visitors brought in 2.5 billion won in sales. Sadly, the momentum didn’t last and the Dongdaemun branch closed its doors in February, 2019 while the Jeju branch closed 12 months later. Binggrae cited a decline in Chinese tourism and wanting to focus on their expansion into the global market as their reasons. 

As well as marketing via product placement, Binggrae have had a range of commercials over the years which are generally very playful and humorous. In 2017 they released an ad campaign entitled “my straw” targeted at millennials which introduced 5 different straws, 3 of which were available as a limited edition and quickly sold out. Later they were released again exclusively at the Yellow Cafe branches. They also teamed up with a large range of celebrities over the years including some of r/KDRAMA’s favourites Ju Ji Hoon, IU, Kim Woo Bin and  Lee Min Ho. They’ve also had some pretty quirky print advertisements like the banana drinking cow and some more wholesome ones. Binggrae banana milk continues to regularly feature in Korean dramas as paid and unpaid product placement, this is the main reason banana milk is the number one food or beverage product sought out by tourists at Incheon airport convenience stores.

In the time period from 2016 to now Binggrae expanded their global presence exponentially. Currently Binggrae’s products can be found in over 30 countries worldwide. Their sales of banana milk have also benefited from viral drink combinations with numerous recipes trending, the banana milk latte managed to not only blow up in Korea but globally. 

Through that journey banana milk went from a government health push to a product that is nostalgic to not only the people of Korea but the world.

Memorable Scenes in Korean Dramas Featuring Banana Milk

Examples contain some minor spoilers

Life on Mars (2018)

Life on Mars uses banana milk in the classic form, reminiscing the post bathhouse treat children are given and how over time this habit became a shared nostalgia. In these scenes Tae Joo comes to the realisation that his father whom he had not seen since his childhood was not the hero that he once thought but just a regular guy who might be a little shady but also someone who loves him. It’s hard for him to process the information but his younger self reminds him of how much he loved and believed that his dad was the greatest person on Earth. It’s a very emotional scene and a great use of banana milk to tie the scenes together and make them relatable to the Korean audience. 

Tae Joo is tasked with returning his dad home from the police station. He asks if they can stop at the bath house on the way home. His dad catches him staring into space and offers to scrub his back. Tae Joo refuses but he does it anyway. Tae Joo reminisces the times at the bath house with his dad and how great they were. His dad says, “Having a banana milk after a bath is the best, isn’t it?”. He stands there deep in thought. His dad assumes he is waiting for him to toast and does so. He’s still out of it, but dad happily drinks his banana milk. 

Later after having dinner with his family Tae Joo is leaving when little Tae Joo chases after him. He looks like he has something to say so Tae Joo buys him banana milk. They sit outside the convenience store looking very identical sipping their milk. Little Tae Joo looks at his ID and he notes they share the name “Tae Joo”. He asks him if he has a gun and is disappointed, so he asks if he has handcuffs. Tae Joo lets him play with his handcuffs, he asks, “do you catch bad guys with these?”. Little Tae Joo declares he is really cool, but not as cool as his dad. He continues bragging about how his dad is like superman, and could even avoid bullets in Vietnam. Tae Joo agrees his dad is an amazing guy. Little Tae Joo generously shares one of the pieces of candy his dad brought him, they play together with the handcuffs. Feeling content, little Tae Joo sips on his banana milk.

Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)

Banana milk makes several appearances throughout Twenty Five Twenty One which are memorable, honestly, this yellow drink gets the gold standard of PPL. 

Following an intense training session with her coach Na Hee Do is sprawled out on the couch guzzling her second banana milk of the night when Baek Yi Jin shows up to sneakily replace her drink with a refill. She is surprised but excited to see him. She invites him inside and as it is the first time he sees her in her fencing gear he has a lot of questions. On the window ledge three empty banana milks linger as the two chat away the night. 

After frolicking on the beach and taking a shower together for the first time the girls sit and drink banana milk together while the boys finish their shower. Hee Do tries to break the tension but they are feeling just too awkward about it all. They think it must be worse for the guys having only met three times before. That’s not the case at all! Ji Ung comes out raving about how amazing Yi Jin’s body is and they play around like they’ve been best friends forever. Hee Do ponders whether Ji Ung is after Yi Jin because he is pretty, Seung Wan explains that Ji Ung desires all the pretty things on the planet and Yu Rim finally realises why he is into her… out loud.

Agency (2023)

After falling into a trap on her first day at work Han Na rages to the CEO. He tells her to go cool off in her office and organises a banana milk to be delivered to her. His secretary forwards the message “Han Na do you want me to stick the straw in for you too?”. Outraged, she screams for the secretary to do it. Furiously she drinks the milk, while remembering telling him it would be weird to speak formally at the office as he was someone who used to poke straws in her banana milk as a kid (the English translation has less bananas!). By the time she finishes her milk she starts thinking more rationally and tells the secretary to deliver a message to the CEO that he no longer needs to put the straw in for her. He is pleased to know she is finally growing up and ready to take on corporate life. A powerful little bottle of milk ends its journey.

Love Next Door (2024)

Banana milk is love // The sweetest confession. 

It begins with a confession put on hold. Seok Ryu asks if there is no expiry date on her answer. Seung Hyo says that might be a little unfair as life is infinite. They head to the convenience store in search of a product with an expiry date that suits. They start in the canned goods section. It’s not looking good. Seok Ryu heads to the instant rice while Seung Hyo heads to the fridge section. They have quite different thoughts about the length of time and depth of thought necessary. Seok Ryu looks for something with a longer expiry date, perhaps fermented yoghurt. While Seung Hyo decides they should go with milk. Seok Ryu agrees but it has to be a carton from the back row. She catches feelings and runs away while he continues pondering the milk situation. When she doesn’t answer him he notices she’s gone so he can pick something with a shorter shelf life. The store clerk comes to tell him off for messing up the product display. Feeling guilty he buys a selection of the items they were looking at and shares them with his co-workers who are puzzled by the selection. His coworker tries to take the plain milk but he intercepts it. She wonders why as he usually likes banana milk. He says, that’s correct but the plain milk has a shorter expiry date.    

After hearing Seok Ryu is missing Seung Hyo searches everywhere for her and eventually finds her at a beach he remembers she ran away to back when they were in high school. They argue about her hiding everything that happened to her overseas. She goes to leave and he picks her up and dumps her in the ocean to cool her off. He tells her to let it all out. She asks why he is getting mad at her when she’s the one going through it all. He explains he’s actually mad at himself for ignoring her when she sent him signals. He apologises, she breaks down. They dry off and enjoy a banana milk together while chatting. 

While translating the notes Seung Ho recorded for her, Seok Ryu discovers a hidden message. She borrows Mo Eun’s car and goes in search of him. It’s her turn to complain that he doesn’t answer his phone. He asks why she’s there. She says she was bored and he told her she could come. Actually, everything is boring without him. She professes that without him life is bland, like eating unseasoned food, or visiting a jjimjilbang without having banana milk afterwards. She asks if he’d like to get some banana milk with her. He laughs, that even when confessing she makes it about food. They kiss. She says she doesn’t think she needs the banana milk after all.

Dive Into You (2026)

(Note: The twins are bodyswapped in this scene, names and genders used below are the body owners)

On a trip to the movies with the twins, Woo Jae shows up late having picked up some treats for Ha Na. He is surprised when acting grossed out, she rejects his offer. She states that cola is a better choice, and they are no longer kids so why would they drink milk.  He goes to put the milk away but Ha Ru asks for the milk. Weirded out, he passes it to him. Ha Ru tenderly sips the milk. Woo Jae watches on and remembers a not so distant memory of Ha Na enjoying banana milk crosses his mind. He continues watching Ha Ru for a moment before returning to the movie. Ha Na has fallen asleep but a loud gun scene wakes her, she stands up and salutes shouting, “Private Yoon Ha Ru, reporting for duty!”. She laughs it off but Ha Ru dies of embarrassment by her side. 

What Banana milk scenes did you find memorable?

What Experiences Have You Had Making and Drinking Banana Milk? 

Not long after I started getting into dramas I became interested in the different foods and products I was seeing on my screen. Banana milk stood out as something simple, iconic and ubiquitous so of course I wanted needed to try it. I think it was my first time visiting the Korean grocery store that I found it in the fridge, I was so excited I didn’t need to read the label, I knew exactly what was in that little tetra pack! My dream! I took a sip. My face scrunched up. Soy milk! My dream was a childhood nightmare. Fake banana flavoured soymilk. I forced myself to drink it all and hated every soy flavoured sip. 

But it wasn’t the end of my banana milk dream. Just fast forward a little…

The year is 2019, I’ve just arrived in Korea and I haven’t forgotten my dream. After finding my accommodation my first stop is a convenience store and the number one item on my list is banana milk. Well that’s the memory my heart holds dear but I didn’t do a cute photo shoot with my banana milk so you’ll just have to believe it! (here's a different snack) It was sweet and delicious and far too easy to drink. Well, it’s to be expected I do come from the country with the highest per capita consumption of flavoured milk in the world! 

Fast forward another few years and I spot banana milk in little tetra packs at the Asian grocer, this time it’s made with UHT milk! Fast forward a few more years to 2026 and my second visit to Korea, banana milk is back on the agenda and it’s a calming and reliable friend on days when my travel plans are going haywire - but I admit to myself I like the taste of strawberry just a little bit more. When I return home I am happy to find that Binggrae now produces banana milk in Australia and I can easily find it even in my little corner of the world but I do miss that little chubby bottle and that teeny tiny straw that strangely makes my heart feel at ease. 

Have you ever tried Banana Milk? Did you make it or buy it? Share your experiences in the comments! 

Next Course

Hopefully, not another 4 years time.

I added challenge #31 (A drama featuring a food/drink that was focused on in a "Have You Eaten?" post) of this years KDC to challenge myself to actually write about one of the courses off my list. Seeing a non Binggrae version of banana milk as product placement in the first episode of and reading up about the banana milk wars in Korea sparked this all. Anyway, I have a few courses I want to write about one day!

What foods/drinks catch your eye most in dramas lately?

Previous Courses

Previous courses you may have missed:

• Jjajangmyeon (짜장면 or noodles with black bean sauce)
• Chimaek (치맥 or Korean Fried Chicken and Beer)
• Tteokbokki (떡볶이 - Spicy Stir-Fried Rice Cakes)
• Mango Six’s Mango Coconut
• Miyeok Guk (Seaweed Soup or 미역국)
• Bibimbap (비빔밥 or Mixed Rice)
• Pat Bingsu (팥빙수 or Korean Shaved Ice Dessert with Red Beans)
• Sujebi (수제비 or Hand-Pulled Dough Soup)
• Japchae (잡채 or Stir Fried Glass Noodles and Vegetables)

• Drama: Love on the Menu
  • Korean Title: 사랑이 온다
• Director:
  • Hong Seok Goo (Girls Generation 1979)
• Screen Writer:
  • Lee Kyung Hee (Uncontrollably Fond)
• Starring:
  • Ahn Hee Yeon as Han Gyu Rim (Call It Love, You Raise Me Up)
  • Ha Seok Jin as Kim Mu Jin (Blind, Something About 1 Percent)
  • Park You Na as Han Gyu Yeong (Spirit Fingers, True Beauty)
  • Bae Jung Nam as Cho Heung Sik (Spring Fever, Mr Sunshine)
• Network: KBS2
• Premiere Date: 25th July 2026
• Airing Schedule: Saturday and Sunday, 8pm KST
• Episodes: 50, 1hr 10mins
• Streaming Sources: Viki, Viu, Kocowa
• Teaser/Trailer: Kocowa Trailer
• Plot Summary: Han Gyu Rim is the owner of a market side dish shop. Her nickname since childhood was "Leader Han." A movie with the long title "Leader Han, Who Always Appears When Something Happens to Someone, Somewhere," was released, and that's exactly her story. If something is bad or sad, she puts aside all else and rushes to help, making it a little less bad or sad. If it was good, she'd celebrate it like it was her own. She's a nosy busybody, a fluttery-eared, emotional litmus test who can't hide her feelings. Kim Mu Jin is the owner and chef of an Italian restaurant. Born with a diamond spoon in his mouth, he deliberately wears market clothes to avoid being discovered as the owner's son, taking the bus and subway to work part-time at the restaurant. He develops a strange bond with Han Gyu Rim, the owner of a market side dish shop.
• Major News Summary: Ha Seok Jin And Hani’s Matching Outfits Lead To A Fateful First Meeting In “Love On The Menu”
• Previous Episode Discussions:
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 1 & 2]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 3 & 4]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 5 & 6]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 7 & 8]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 9 & 10]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 11 & 12]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 13 & 14]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 15 & 16]
  • Love on the Menu [Episodes 17 & 18]
  • Love on the Menu [Episode 19]
  • Love on the Menu [Episode 20 & 21]

On-Air Rules:

On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defence.

Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

Drama Information:

• Drama: 100 Days of Deception / 100일의 거짓말
• Network: tvN
• Premiere Date: October 10, 2026
• Airing Schedule: Sat & Sun
• Episodes: 16
• Streaming Sources: Netflix
• Director: Yoo In Shik (Dr. Romantic, Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
• Screenwriter: Ryu Bo Ri (Trolley, Do You Like Brahms?)
• Cast:
  • Kim Yoo Jung (Love in the Moonlight, Dear X) as Lee Ga Gyeong / Geum Seo Hui
  • Park Jin Young (Our Unwritten Seoul, Still Shining) as Kim Tae Ung / Sato Hideo
  • Kim Hyun Joo (Hellbound, Trolley) as Yoo So Ran
  • Lee Moo Saeng (Cleaning Up, As You Stood By) as Philip Yoo
  • Jin Sun Kyu (Through the Darkness, Bargain) as Sato Shinichi
• Synopsis:

Set in Gyeongseong during the Japanese colonial period, the drama follows Ga Gyeong, the city’s most talented pickpocket, who strikes a dangerous deal with the independence army and goes undercover at the Japanese Government-General of Joseon. Disguised as an employee, she is tasked with acting as a “fake spy” for just 100 days, but her mission slowly turns her into a real informant caught between survival, loyalty, and conviction.

As she navigates her perilous double life, Ga Gyeong becomes entangled with Tae Ung, a Joseon-born Korean interpreter working inside the same building. Against a backdrop of secrets, lies, and growing political tension, a romance quietly takes shape between them. (Source: MyDramaList)

• Previous Discussions: [Episodes 1 & 2]

On-Air Rules:

On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.

Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

• Drama: A Love Other Than Yours
  • Hangul: 너 말고 다른 연애
• Director: Hwang Seung Gi (Into The Ring)
• Screenwriter: Yoo Su Ji (Somehow 18)
• Network: KBS
• Episodes: 14
• Airing Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays @ 9:20PM (KST)
  • Airing Date: September 12, 2026 - November 15, 2026
• Streaming Sources: Prime Video
• Starring:
  • Seo Kang Jun (Undercover High School) as Namgung Ho
  • Ahn Eun Jin (My Dearest) as Lee Mi Do
  • Lee Joo Ahn (True Beauty) as Han Tae Seung
  • Jo A Ram (The Auditors) as Park Su A
• Plot Synopsis:

A realistic and relatable romance that depicts the emotional waves and fractures in relationships experienced by long-time lovers standing at the crossroads of marriage as they unexpectedly encounter new people. The honest and intense emotions of four men and women, a couple who have been together for over ten years and the new individuals who suddenly appear in their lives intersect delicately throughout the story.

Namgung Ho, an office worker who becomes entangled in an unexpected emotional whirlwind after confronting the wavering feelings of the lover he cherishes, makes a bold proposal.

Lee Mi Do shines the brightest on film sets. Even with a bare face and a shabby T-shirt, her stunning figure can't be hidden. When she frowns and gets angry, her charisma explodes, even becoming more sensual. She has a boyfriend, but she's thrown into confusion after meeting a new love interest.

On-Air Rules:

On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.

Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

Previous Discussions: [Episodes 1 & 2] / [Episodes 3 & 4] / [Episodes 5 & 6] / [Episodes 7 & 8]

Drama Information:

• Drama: Dive Into You / 너에게 다이브

• Network: Channel A

• Episodes: 12

• Airing Schedule: Saturdays 22:40 - 00:00, Sundays 22:30 - 23:50

  • Airing Date: 26 September - 1 November, 2026.

• Streaming Sources: Viki

• Director: So Jaehyun

• Screen Writer: Kim Bo Geum, Lee On

• Starring:

  • Bo Na as Yoon Ha Na
  • Park Seo Ham as Jung Woo Jae
  • Jang Se Hyuk as Yoon Ha Ru
  • Moon Sung You as Son Ye Rang

• Plot Synopsis:

As high schoolers, Yoon Ha Na, Yoon Ha Ru, and Jung Woo Jae were all close: Ha Na and Ha Ru as twin siblings, and Ha Ru and Woo Jae as judo competitors. As adults, Ha Na becomes an actress with Woo Jae serving as her bodyguard, while Ha Ru becomes an internationally-ranked judo athlete. When a stalker kills Woo Jae while he’s trying to protect Ha Na, the twins are left heartbroken at their friend’s death. But after a car accident sweeps the twins out to sea, they wake up in 2010 – and in each other’s bodies. Ha Ru and Ha Na must now navigate their swapped identities, their shared desire to keep Woo Jae alive, and the consequences of slipping back and forth in time - alongside Woo Jae and Ha Na’s developing feelings for each other. (source: Viki)

• Previous Discussions:

Episodes 1 & 2

Episodes 3 & 4

Episodes 5 & 6

On-Air Rules:

On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.

Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

Welcome to our series of posts highlighting information and resources available within our subreddit. In this post, we introduce our FAQ and our KDRAMA 101, which contains some of the most commonly asked questions and other basic information about kdramas. This post will focus on a selection of questions about the Korean language and honorifics system, check out our FAQ for even more information.

If you have any additional questions about the information in this post or our FAQ, feel free to leave a comment with your question/feedback.

What Is Hangeul/Hangul?

The Korean phonemic writing system, in other words, the written Korean alphabet. See More Details

Why Do Koreans Use So Many English Words?

Korean language has many naturalized words borrowed from different languages, many of the naturalized words from 21st century come from English (eg. coffee, orange juice).

How To Romanize Korean Names

According to Korea's official romanization system:

• (4) Personal names are written by family name first, followed by a space and the given name. As a rule, syllables in given names are not seperated by hyphen, but it is admitted to use a hyphen between syllables. (Transcription in ( ) is permitted.)

Example

민용하 Min Yongha (Min Yong-ha)

As for different ways of romanizing last names:

• Transcriptions of family names will be established additionally.

Basically, unifying romanization of last names will be a greater challenge since it involves a lot things (changing passports, verifying identities, cultural value of last names, etc.).

Learn more about romanization and how to address others.

What Is Honorifics/Polite Speech?

Hierarchy is very important in Korean culture and the Korean language reflects that through its complex honorifics system, the proper use of which is crucial for all social interactions. The Korean honorifics system is comprised of both specialized vocabulary and grammar rules, the most famous being its speech levels (addressee honorifics; distinctive sentence enders). The use of the honorifics system conveys important information about the context of the speech and the speaker’s relationship with the subject (referent) and the listener (addressee) of the speech. The relationship indicated can be based on a variety of factors such as age, gender, social status, and degree of intimacy.

The most well-known aspect of the Korean honorifics system is its speech levels, also known as addressee honorifics (hearer honorifics), represented by distinctive sentence enders. The sentence enders are determined based on sentence type and the speaker’s relationship to the listener (addressee) of the speech. The selection of which speech level to use is heavily context and purpose dependent, thus different speech levels are used to indicate varying degrees of social hierarchy, familiarity, and formality along with the purpose or intent of the speech. This means that sometimes a speaker will even use a mix of different speech levels when interacting with the same person within a given situation. Furthermore, depending on the exact context of use and communicative intent of the speaker, the meaning conveyed by the speech may be opposite or different than what that speech level traditionally represents (for example, if the speaker was being sarcastic). Thus no one style is polite or impolite in all situations, the context must be considered when figuring out the intended meaning. In general though, when the speaker wants to show respect toward the listener (addressee) of their speech, they will choose a honorific speech level.

When discussing Korean speech levels, note that the Korean language itself is split along the lines of honorific [존댓말 (jondaemal)] and non-honorific [반말 (banmal)] rather than informal and formal. And the key to determining whether honorific level should or should not be used depends on the relationship between the speaker and the listener and the situation. While it is true that in very formal situations, honorific forms will be used, it is not the case that non-honorific forms will always be used in non-formal situations. Honorific forms can still be used in informal situations.

An example to explain this is that you are trying to ask for directions from a stranger, for example the cashier at the convenience store. The situation is not a formal situation but you would still be using the honorific form (jondaemal) because you are addressing a stranger.

In any situation, formal or non-formal, if the listener is of superior status (due to age, generation, work relationship, etc.) and the speaker wants to acknowledge or demonstrate that difference, they would use honorifics when addressing the listener and at the same time "lower" themselves when talking about themselves. By "lower", it means that the speaker wants their language to reflect their respect for the listener. It's not used in the sense that the speaker consider themselves as inferior to the listener, just that they are trying to demonstrate their respect for the listener. If on the other hand, the speaker does not want to or need to lower themselves in comparison to the listener, their speech can reflect that too.

존댓말 (jondaemal) is honorific speech (also called polite speech), which includes both the deferential and the polite speech levels, and indicates that the speaker views the listener with respect and is honoring the listener. 존대 (jondae) literally means respect.

반말 (banmal) is non-honorific speech (also called impolite speech), which includes both the plain and the intimate speech level. 반말 (banmal) can be literally translated as half-speech.

Below is a rough guide to honorific markers in Korean and their significance. For more details, see our full section on honorifics in our KDRAMA 101.

2 Important Things To Remember

A speaker may use a mix of different speech levels when interacting with the same person within a given situation.

No speech level is polite or impolite in all situations; the context and intent of the speaker is the ultimate determinator of intended meaning. (In other words: sarcasm exists.)

When You Hear ~ᄇ니다 ~ᄇ니까? ~ᄇ시오 ~ᄇ시다 { ~pnida ~pnikka? ~psio ~psida }

Speech Level: Deferential

Used When: Public or formal discourse such as in broadcasting or conference presentations. | Addressing the public. | When a subordinate addresses a superior in a formal situation.

When You Hear ~요 (~yo)

Speech Level: Polite

Used When: Addressing someone of senior status in casual, non-formal, and everyday types of conversations. | Addressing someone who is an equal, based on factors such as age/status/power/etc. (coworkers, acquaintances, classmates, etc.) | Between strangers. | Addressing someone older. | In a new relationship (friendship/dating).

When You Hear ~다 ~니/냐? ~라 ~자 { ~da ~ni?/nya? ~ra ~ja }

Speech Level: Plain

Used When: In written form for nonspecific listeners (books, magazines, etc.) | When a superior addresses a subordinate. | Addressing someone younger in casual situations but the relationship may not be a super close one. | Addressing close friends or otherwise agreed to by both parties (includes dating relationships).

When You Hear ~어/아 ( ~eo/a)

Speech Level: Intimate

Used When: Between close friends of similar age. | Between family members. | When an elder addresses a child.

When You Hear ~님 (~nim) and 씨 (~ssi)

• ~nim and ~ssi are honorific title suffixes, used to show respect by the speaker for the person who’s name/job title is modified with the suffix.

• ~nim shows the most respect and can be added directly to names or job titles with or without the surname (used to distinguish when multiple people hold the same position).

• ~ssi can only be added to names, not job titles. Can be attached to full name (more formal/less intimate), only the given name (less formal/more intimate), or just the surname (implies the addressee is of lower social position).

When You Hear 나 (na) and 우리 (uri) for I/Me and Us

• Used when speaker and listener are relatively equal to each other or are close to each other.

• Generally not used in formal situations.

When You Hear 저 (jeo) and 저희 (jeohui) for I/Me and Us

• Used when the listener is of superior status or when speaking with strangers.

• Used often in formal situations.

Addressing Someone By Name

Koreans generally do not call people by their given names unless the speaker is a (close) friend, colleague, or superior of the listener. When names are used, they are often modified with honorific suffixes. Below are examples of use.

Full Name + ~님/~씨 Used when addressing someone distant (no close personal relationship) or when a service employee is calling a customer. Used in conjunction with honorific speech levels (존댓말 (jondaemal)). (김진호 님 or 김진호 씨)

Given Name + ~씨 Used to address coworkers, acquaintances, friends or when a superior addresses a subordinate (such as in a work or college environment). Can imply that the interpersonal relationship is not a very close one. But can also just be a conscious decision by the relevant parties to remain respectful of each other. Used in conjunction with honorific speech levels (존댓말 (jondaemal)). (진호 씨)

Given Name Used between (close) friends, classmates, or when someone older is addressing a younger person that they know or are familiar with. Parents would also call their children by just their given name. Used in conjunction with non-honorific speech levels (반말 (banmal)). (진호) Note: sometimes the vocative marker -a/-ya is added at the end of the name. This generally indicates a very close relationship.

Full Name When parents are addressing their child, it could either signify the child is in trouble (angry/exasperated tone) or the parent wants to talk to the child as an equal (friend) instead of asserting their parental authority (usually seen in dramas when the parent pulls the child over to sit and discuss something important). When used between friends or in a relationship, the person speaking is probably angry or the person being called is being absentminded/distracted and not paying attention. (김진호 (!))

Addressing Someone By Title

Koreans generally address each other by their (work) title. The honorific suffix ~nim can be added to the end of the title to show respect. This is especially the case when subordinates would address their superiors, they would use their superior’s title + ~nim suffix. It is possible to add the full name or just the surname before the title to clarify exactly who is being referred to if multiple people hold the same title. Coworkers may address each other as name + title without the ~nim suffix. When a superior addresses a subordinate, they generally do not add the ~nim suffix to the subordinate’s title or name. Some commonly used examples of titles:

Addressing Others By Their Social Position/Relationship

Koreans may also address each other based on their social position or relationship. Below are the most commonly used ones.

• Seonbae-Hubae (선배/후배)

선배 (seonbae) is a Sino-Korean word that is often translated as a senior or elder in an organization, or an upperclassman when talking about school. But its use is not limited to a work or school setting, it can be applied more broadly as in “a seonbae in life”. Its Hanja is 先輩 and can be literally translated as prior (선/先) generation (배/輩). The priority does not depend on the age of the people in question but rather the achievement. So one can be a 선배 in school, work, or life achievements (such as marriage or having children).

후배 (hubae) is the corresponding Sino-Korean word that is often translated as a junior in an organization or an underclassman when talking about school. Its Hanja is 後輩 and can be literally translated as later (후/後) generation (배/輩). Again, the deciding factor is not the age of the people in question but the timing of the achievement.

When the honorific suffix ~nim is added to 선배, it usually means that the two people are not very close personally or the situation is more formal (business meeting as opposed to coffee). When the hubae has a close relationship with the seonbae, they may use seonbae without the ~nim suffix.

• Haksaeng (학생)

When an adult is talking to a student-aged young person that they do not know, they may address them with 학생 (haksaeng), which literally means student. This does not need to take place near a school, it could be anywhere. For example, it could be an adult asking a student on the street for directions.

• {Child's Name} + Father/Mother

When adults are addressing other adults who are parents, it is possible to call the adult as their child’s name + father/mother instead of the adult's given name. So the father of the child will be called {child’s name} 아버님 (a-beo-nim, father), while the mother will be called {child’s name} 어머님 (eo-meo-nim, mother). If the conversation is one-one, such as when a teacher is talking only to one student’s parents without other people in the conversation, they may not add the child’s name in front and directly use 아버님 and 어머님.

Kinship Terms

Traditionally, Korean families were large and several generations would live together in a single household. As a result, kinship terms in Korean are well-developed and very specific according to the relationship in play. However, changes in social structure has affected the use of these terms and some are no longer used as often or how they are used has changed. Additionally, some kinship terms have been adapted for general use in daily life to refer to people other than relatives.

In addition to the abundance of kinship terms available, their proper use is complicated by the fact that choosing the appropriate term depends on who the listener is.

Examples:

• A grandson talking directly to his maternal grandmother can just address her as “grandmother” but if he was talking to his classmate, he would use “maternal grandmother” to describe her.

• An uncle talking to his nephew about the nephew’s father would use “your father” instead of “my younger brother.”

In order to differentiate the uses, this section on kinship terms will be split into two parts, the first part will address kinship terms when used to address relatives and the second part will highlight kinship terms in their other common uses. See more info and a list of kinships in our KDRAMAS 101

Gather around everyone and let's talk about the things you spotted this week while watching dramas! This is the place to share if you spotted any of the following:

• Truck of Doom^TM and other tropes you love/hate

• Easter eggs and notable references to other dramas, artwork, poems, books, etc.

• Fun or interesting background details in a scene (e.g. in the set, props, clothing, background music, location, etc.)

• Ramyeon, soju, fried chicken, and other foods/drinks

• Puns, idioms, and other interesting tidbits about culture

• Subway, Samsung, Swarovski, and other PPL

• A Kim Tan Worthy Sweater^TM and more!

Share your love or frustration or rage or annoyance or amusement at seeing these things. You are not limited currently airing Kdramas or even Kdramas at all but please be mindful of spoilers.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get spoiler content. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

• Drama: Doctor X: Mafia In White
  • Hangul: 닥터X : 하얀 마피아의 시대
• Director: Lee Jung Rim (Revenant)
• Network: SBS
• Episodes: 12
• Airing Schedule: Fridays & Saturdays @ 9:50PM (KST)
  • Airing Date: October 9, 2026 - November 14, 2026
• Streaming Sources: Netflix
• Starring:
  • Kim Ji Won (Queen Of Tears) as Gye Su Jeong
  • Lee Jung Eun (Our Blues) as Jang Hui Suk
  • Son Hyun Joo (The Good Detective) as Bu Seung Gwon
  • Kim Woo Seok (The Forbidden Marriage) as Park Tae Gyeong
  • Lee Jin Hee (Flex X Cop) as Cho Won Jin
• Plot Synopsis: Gye Su Jeong is a genius surgeon. Introduced through Jang Hui Suk's doctor placement agency, Gye Su Jeong is placed at Guseo University Hospital to fill a surgical vacancy. She proves her worth through her surgical skills, and she exposes absurdities in the medical field. She becomes involved with Bu Seung Gwon, the director of Guseo University Hospital, and intern Park Tae Gyeong.

On-Air Rules:

On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.

Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

Previous Discussions: [Episodes 1 & 2]

Did you finally get the chance to see that one drama? Want to rant/rave about it? Do it here and see who else is late to the party like you!

This is our weekend check-in to talk about what you have been watching lately.

As you are well aware it's easy to be late to the party so please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get spoiler content. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

Another Friday, another weekend -- welcome to the Weekend Wrap-Up! This is a free-for-all (FFA) discussion post in which almost anything goes, just remember to be kind to each other and don't break any of our core rules. Talk about your week, talk about your weekend, talk about your pet (remember the pet tax!). Of course, you can also talk about the dramas and shows you have been watching.

This is also the space to share content that would otherwise not qualify as self-posts under our rules -- like rumored casting news and discussions about non-kdramas.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get spoiler content. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

Welcome to r/KDRAMA, a community where kdrama watchers gather to discuss their favorite dramas!

This r/KDRAMA Guide is an automated weekly post that introduces our community features, resources, rules, and answers some FAQs. Use this guide to help you navigate around our community and find resources easily!

Full Rules and Policies

We are an actively moderated community, please review our full Rules and Policies before participating in our community. Content and conduct that violates our Rules and Policies will be removed.

Note that the sidebar rules widget in New Reddit contains only a very abbreviated version of our full rules, please do not rely on them to contest any moderation actions, use our full Rules and Policies.

Browsing the Subreddit

Our subreddit is most optimized for browsing on desktop in New Reddit where we make maximize use of the sidebar to share the most updated information and resources (eg. schedule of On-Air discussions, links to most commonly used resources and featured posts), we encourage newcomers to view our subreddit on desktop to see all the information. Additionally, due to problems with official Reddit mobile apps, some of the links we have in the sidebar or posts do not work on mobile. If you are having trouble accessing links, please switch to desktop access.

We strongly recommend browsing our community feed sorted by new to see the latest discussion posts.

To view all resources in and information about our subreddit, see our wiki.

Note: /r/KDRAMA measures time in KST - Korean Standard Time (UTC +9) so all references to time or date relate to that time-zone.

Participating & Posting In Our Subreddit

Participating

Our community strives to be a friendly and safe space where our community members can participate and enjoy discussions about kdramas. To that end, we ask participants to be kind to each other, by remembering the human both behind and on the screen -- including the actors and actresses and staff members that makes the drama. Harassment, threats, bullying, personal attacks, racism, hate speech, and other similar negative behaviors are prohibited in this subreddit.

There are consequences for what you post. Remember that others do not have to tolerate insults, harassment, racism, sexism, or any other types of negative behavior. While we are not a support subreddit, we aim to be supportive of each other in our love for kdramas.

Before participating within our subreddit, please read our conduct Policies, Rules, and Reddiquette to understand what type of civil behavior and discourse is expected in our community. Also read our When Discussions Get Personal for explanations and tips to maintain civil discourse within our community and elsewhere in life.

Let's all live by the Korean proverb 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 -- If the outgoing words are beautiful, then the incoming words will be beautiful, too.

Posting

New to our community and daunted by our Rules and Policies for posting? The best way to start your interaction with our community is by participating in our scheduled posts or On-Air Discussions. There's at least one per day of the week so that there is always a post you can participate in. These posts are very friendly and community-oriented -- a great way to dip your toe into conversations without the pressure of making a post. This will help newcomers to our subreddit get a better feel for the style and type of discourse in our community, which may be much more actively moderated in comparison to other spaces.

Scheduled Recurring Discussions

Our scheduled posts consists of two types: themed and free-for-all. Themed discussions cover a variety of topics frequently discussed by kdrama watchers. Free-for-all (FFA) discussion posts are our general chat discussion posts where as long as you abide by our conduct rules and Reddiquette, you can share whatever you like, including content completely unrelated to kdramas. See full detailed explanations of our scheduled posts.

On-Air Discussions

On-Air Discussions are dedicated weekly discussion posts for currently airing dramas. They are hosted by volunteers from the community to create a dedicated space each week to discuss what has happened in that drama for that week. On-Air drama discussions reduce clutter on the front page of the subreddit by centralizing discussion and all related content, such as news updates, previews, interviews, behind the scenes videos, etc.. For currently airing dramas with On-Air discussions, no other discussion posts are allowed, see our full Rules for details.

A schedule of current On-Airs can be seen in our sidebar. See the latest On-Air discussions and here is our On-Air Discussions Roster, which links all our previous On-Air discussions.

Want to learn more about our On-Air Discussions system? Feel passionately about an upcoming drama and want to host its weekly On-Air Discussions? See our full explanation, guidelines and policies on On-Air Discussions here.

Drama Reviews

We welcome well-written detailed drama reviews. Reviews should be for completed series only -- that is the series has finished airing all of its episodes and the reviewer has watched the entire drama. Reviews where the reviewer has not fully completed the drama will be removed. For those that just want to write a short blurb about a drama, feel free to share in any of our weekly discussion threads instead. See our tips on how to write a helpful review.

Reviews are moderated according to our moderation guidelines for reviews for content. Other rules and policies, such as On-Air or review megathread rules, still apply. Notably, reviews are subject to moderation for frequency under our Rehashed Discussions rule.

Fanart And Memes

We have a Designated Day, currently every Tuesday from 00:00-23:59 KST (UTC +9), on which we allow our members to attempt to share one (1) self posts of either qualified Fanart or Memes on r/KDRAMA. Fanart and meme posts are not permitted outside of Designated Days. Please review our Designated Day rules fully before submission.

News

We are not a news oriented subreddit though they are permitted as posts with restrictions on type of and source of news. Please fully review our Rules and Polices on news items before submission. If you are seeking to be kept updated with any entertainment news other than official casting news, we strongly recommend you seek out other sources beyond our subreddit such as Soompi.

OST And Promotional Material

We only allow official OSTs and promotional material (previews, teasers, posters) in our subreddit with restrictions on frequency and airing status of dramas. Please fully review our Rules on OSTs and promotional material before submission. There are post title requirements, please follow them.

FAQs

About Subreddit

Why Is My Post Not Showing Up?

Our subreddit has certain filters in place to identify submissions that potentially require moderation action.

If you have made a post and it does not immediately show up in the community feed, it is possible that the post has been filtered out. Please DO NOT make reposts or immediately contact the moderation team for review of your post. Filtered posts automatically enter our moderation queue and will be reviewed by a moderator. Please allow at least 24 hours for moderation action to be taken. If no further moderation action has been taken on your post (either approval or removal with notice) after 24 hours, please contact the moderation team via Modmail for assistance.

How Do I Seek Clarification About Or Contest A Moderation Action?

If you have received a removal comment from a human moderator (not AutoModerator) and wish to seek clarification or contest the removal, reply to the comment left by the moderator. Do not send private messages or chats to individual moderators about moderation actions, we consider such behavior moderator harassment. See our Policies for more information.

Note, do not reply to AutoModerator comments, the moderation team does not receive notifications for replies to comments left by the Automoderator.

What Are Moderators And What Do They Do?

Moderators are users that help manage a subreddit community by moderating the content that is allowed in the community, establishing and communicating relevant rules and policies, and engaging with other community members. More Detailed Explanation

How Do I Customize My User Flair?

Customizable user flairs are enabled in our community (the little banner following usernames). User flairs are subreddit-specific and can be used to show off your personality or favorite dramas. Our User Flair Guide shows you how to set your user flair on desktop in both Old and New Reddit.

How Do I Make Spoiler Tags?

Hate being spoiled? So do we, which is why we ask our community to use spoiler tags abundantly in order to prevent this. Reddit formatting allows for a few different ways to create spoilers. See our Spoiler Tag Tutorial to learn how do make them.

How Do I Format Things In Markdown?

Need help formatting? Want to know how to do italics and super^scripts and bold things? Check our Formatting and Markdown Guide.

What Are The Dramas In The Banner?

Info here.

Where Can I Find All Subreddit Resources?

On New Reddit sidebar, we have linked the most used resources. Otherwise our wiki landing page has links to and brief explanations of all the resources in our community.

Is There A Subreddit Discord?

Yes, here.

About Kdramas

Where Can I Watch Kdramas?

See our non-exhaustive list of legal streaming sources from around the world where you can watch kdramas. We also have a list of popular official Youtube channels for webdramas.

Please note that linking, mentioning, or promotion of any illegal sources (eg. non-licensed streaming sites, torrent sites, personally uploaded videos, download links, etc.) is strictly prohibited and will result in an immediate ban. Promotion includes soliciting users to PM for links to illegal sources.

What Dramas Should I Watch?

If you are looking for your next drama, check out our sister sub r/kdramarecommends, the single best place to ask for kdrama recommendations. You can ask for recommendations based on your preferences or you can ask if a drama you are considering is worth watching. Check their Getting Started Guide before you post to familiarize yourself with that sub, and their Recommendations 101 to help you craft the perfect recommendation request post. If you don't know where to start or want to browse past recommendations, check out the awesome What to Watch Next wiki for our complete archive of recommendations gathered over the past years.

Note, drama recommendation requests are not permitted as self-posts in r/KDRAMA. Posts will be removed and redirected to r/kdramarecommends.

Is There A Site For Tracking Dramas?

A popular site used by many kdrama watchers for tracking dramas is MyDramaList -- the site has profiles of dramas, actors/actresses, and drama reviews/ratings.

I'm New To Kdramas, What Basics Should I Know?

For new watchers of kdramas, we strongly recommend taking a read through our basic FAQ, our KDRAMAS 101, and our Glossary as a starting point to get to know and understand kdramas better.

Welcome to our Spotlight On post series where you can share your picks of dramas that deserve the spotlight! Each Spotlight On post is focused on a genre or theme, as you can see in the post title. Based on this genre/theme, you are welcome to share your views about dramas you have watched that fit the topic of this post, which is:

High School

Dramas set in high school or with high school aged protagonists.

You are invited to share short (or long) reviews of dramas you have watched that fit the topic of this post and an explanation of why you think the drama deserves the spotlight, including whether you would recommend the drama or not.

Our suggested format/structure for comments is:

Drama Name

• Good Things: about the drama,

• Bad Things: about the drama

• Interesting Things: about the drama

• Spotlight On Because: explain why you think the drama deserves the spotlight, including whether you would recommend the drama or not.

We strongly encourage you to share your MDL profile so that others can compare their tastes with yours to get a better understanding of preferences and dislikes, which will help in understanding if the feedback provided is applicable for them.

Please remember that every individual watching goes in with their own life experiences and biases so not everyone will see the drama in the same light or enjoy it in the same way.

Just because someone did not enjoy a drama that you loved is not a slight against you as a person.

When participating in this discussion please remember that whilst dramas do not have feelings, human beings do. Be kind to one another.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get spoiler content. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

• Drama: Make Me Tingle
  • Korean Title: 내가 떨릴 수 있게
• Network: TVING
• Airing Dates: October 15, 2026 - November 5, 2026
• Airing Schedule: Thursdays; 4-episode initial release with 2 episodes each following week
• Episodes: 10
• Streaming Sources: Viki, HBO Max Asia
• Director: Kim Ye Ji
• Screenwriter:  Ahn Sae Bom (Soundtrack #1)
• Cast:
  • Nam Ji Hyun (Good Partner, Little Women) as Kong Yeon Su
  • Kim Jae Yeong (Idol I, The Judge from Hell) as Dokgo Dal
  • Kang Tae Ju (Pachinko) as Yun Ji
  • Park So Jin (Sh**ting Stars) as Jin Se Ra
• Plot Synopsis: Yeon Su was raised in a conservative family, where courtesy and discipline mean everything, making it somewhat difficult to learn about her true self. One day, she gets intertwined with a sex toy company and meets Dokgo Dal, who opens up a whole other world for her. While their love blossoms, Yeon Su not only learns about her emotional excitement but also acknowledges the importance of physical excitement that leads her to truly mature.

On-Air Rules:

• On-Air Rules: Users participating in any On-Air discussions in r/KDRAMA, like this current post, should read and follow our On-Air-Rules (section 5 of our Rules), a subset of rules tailored for our On-Air discussions. These rules specifically cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in On-Air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other On-Air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the On-Air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the On-Air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled. Review our On-Air-Rules for additional guidance.

Hello and welcome to Kim Tan's Talk Time (Thursday)!

This is a free-for-all discussion in which almost anything goes, don't diss The Heirs or break any of our other core rules. General discussion about anything and everything is allowed.

This post is mysteriously sponsored by California Almonds and Mango Six's Mango Coconut. Take a moment to appreciate our main man Tan before the week is over and get your talk time on.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get spoiler content. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch