Business Proposal

Synopsis

Shin Ha-ri is an ordinary employee at the food company Go Food. When her best friend Jin Young-seo, daughter of a wealthy businessman, asks her to take her place at a blind date to scare off the suitor, Ha-ri agrees by disguising herself and behaving as repulsively as possible. The problem: the suitor turns out to be Kang Tae-mu, the handsome and cold CEO of Go Food — her own boss.

Against all odds, Tae-mu, tired of blind dates imposed by his grandfather, sees this eccentric woman as the perfect opportunity: he proposes a fake marriage to end the family pressure. Ha-ri, trapped between her false identity and her real job, finds herself navigating an increasingly complicated situation as real feelings develop between them. Meanwhile, a romance blossoms between Jin Young-seo and Cha Sung-hoon, Tae-mu's devoted and unflappable secretary.

The drama strings together comic misunderstandings tied to Ha-ri's double identity, endearing romantic scenes, and physical humor moments, while developing a light reflection on family pressure, social expectations, and the courage to be oneself.

Themes and Influence

Business Proposal is the embodiment of the feel-good K-drama: light, funny, and romantic without excessive dramatic pretension. The drama renewed the office romantic comedy sub-genre by combining it with the fake marriage trope. Its worldwide success on Netflix (top 10 in over 90 countries) demonstrated the international appetite for light Korean rom-coms. Ahn Hyo-seop and Kim Se-jeong became international stars thanks to the series.