Business Proposal K-Drama Review: Familiar, Funny, and Sweet

Hi, it’s Min. 🌿

Ever opened Netflix looking for something to watch, only to spend more time browsing than actually watching? When what you want is a little laughter and romance, Business Proposal is one I’d happily put in front of you.

I got completely caught up in this drama when I watched it. A wealthy CEO, an ordinary employee, a blind date gone wrong, and a pretend relationship: the ingredients couldn’t be more familiar. Somehow, that made the experience even more enjoyable.

In Korean, there’s an expression, 아는 맛이 무섭다: roughly, a familiar flavor can be hard to resist. That’s how this drama felt to me. I could see the sweetness coming, and I still wanted another bite.

This review covers the 2022 live-action K-drama, rather than the novel or webtoon.

Spoiler level: Mild. I discuss the opening setup, both couples, and briefly mention a romantic scene involving glasses. No major plot turns or ending details.

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Is Business Proposal Worth Watching? My Short Verdict

Yes, if you’re in the mood for a cheerful, comfortably predictable romantic comedy.

Shin Ha-ri goes on a blind date in her friend’s place, hoping to scare the man off. Unfortunately, he turns out to be Kang Tae-moo, the CEO of the company where she works. An awkward evening becomes a much bigger problem.

Kim Se-jeong plays Ha-ri, and Ahn Hyo-seop plays Tae-moo. Their chemistry was the biggest reason I kept smiling.

For me, this was lovely after-work viewing: something to settle into with a cold drink when I didn’t have the energy for a demanding story. The conflicts never left me feeling stuck in an exhausting cycle of romantic frustration. I could relax and enjoy the comedy.

That doesn’t mean the characters have no problems. It means those problems didn’t overwhelm the lightness I enjoyed so much.

Kim Se-jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop Make the Familiar Setup Fun

Ha-ri was such a pleasure to watch.

Kim Se-jeong makes her funny and lovable, with a liveliness that kept the exaggerated situations entertaining for me. I spent a good deal of the drama smiling at her reactions.

And opposite her, Ahn Hyo-seop gives the central romance the chemistry it needs. A wealthy boss and an ordinary employee could easily feel like a checklist of familiar romance ingredients. Here, I enjoyed seeing the two actors bring those ingredients to life.

The romance also felt refreshingly direct. I didn’t feel as though the drama kept putting the same emotional conversation just out of reach, or stretching every misunderstanding until it became tiring.

That mattered more to me than being surprised by the plot. I wanted to laugh and feel a little flutter of excitement. These two delivered.

The Comic-Style Effects Add to the Charm

Another thing I enjoyed was the playful visual presentation: little 2D effects and cartoon-like flourishes that suit the drama’s bouncy mood.

Those choices could have felt childish. For me, they made the exaggeration more charming. The show gives itself room to be silly, and the visual touches help that silliness feel at home.

The story began as Haehwa’s web novel, became a webtoon, and later reached television, as documented in Kakao Entertainment’s publishing overview. Here, the comic-style flourishes make a lovely fit for the screen version’s cheerful personality.

The Second Couple Deserves Its Own Mention

I can’t talk about what I liked without mentioning Cha Sung-hoon and Jin Young-seo, played by Kim Min-gue and Seor In-a.

I found their chemistry every bit as enjoyable as the main couple’s. Their romance has a lively pace of its own, so I wasn’t simply waiting for the story to return to Ha-ri and Tae-moo.

And yes, the glasses kiss deserves a small mention. If I could experience that moment for the first time again, I absolutely would. I’ll leave the details there for anyone who hasn’t watched it yet. 😉

Having two couples I wanted to follow made the whole drama more fun for me.

What Didn’t Work Quite as Well?

The predictability is the clearest limitation.

If a scene seems to be setting up an accidental stumble into someone’s arms, you can probably guess what sort of moment is coming. The wealthy-boss romance also takes place in a polished fictional world that feels designed for romantic comedy, rather than everyday working life.

If you want unexpected turns, a weighty narrative, or a realistic examination of workplace relationships, this may feel too light.

I noticed those limitations, but they didn’t bother me much while watching. I liked that the drama committed so confidently to its familiar formula. It felt interested in making those recognizable moments entertaining, rather than constantly finding a way around them.

I also appreciated that, to me, the emotional scenes didn’t tip into forced tearjerking. I finished watching with the cheerful feeling I’d wanted from it.

Who Would I Recommend It To?

I’d suggest Business Proposal if you’re looking for:

• A light romantic comedy after a tiring week
• Leads whose chemistry makes a familiar premise enjoyable
• Playful, cartoon-like touches in a live-action drama
• A second couple worth following in their own right
• Romance that, for me, kept moving without becoming emotionally exhausting

If you’re currently craving a serious thriller, intricate plotting, or something grounded and restrained, I’d save this for another mood.

My recommendation is enthusiastic, but it comes down to what you want to watch. For a weekend when all I wanted was to laugh and enjoy something sweet, this was a very happy choice.

Where to Watch and What to Read Next

The drama is listed as Business Proposal on Netflix. Availability, subtitles, and access depend on your region; check your local listing before subscribing.

For an introduction to the story and its different versions, visit the A Business Proposal title guide.

If you’re deciding whether to read it too, my original web novel review covers the prose version. The novel vs. webtoon vs. K-drama guide explains the formats, while the Korean office titles guide helps with the workplace language.

Official References

• Netflix — Business Proposal: release year, premise, cast, and official streaming listing.
• SBS — Business Proposal: the drama’s original broadcaster.
• SBS — Sung-hoon and Young-seo: supporting-couple character and performer credits. The linked clip contains a romantic-scene spoiler.
• Kakao Entertainment — A Business Proposal Publishing History: the novel, webtoon, and television adaptation relationship.