When Business Proposal premiered on SBS and Netflix in early 2022, it didn't reinvent the romantic comedy genre. Instead, it leaned into classic tropes—fake dating, office romance, and billionaire chaebols—and executed them with such sharp comedic timing and infectious chemistry that it became a global sensation. At the heart of that success is a core cast who turned familiar webtoon characters into pop culture icons.
The show follows Shin Ha-ri, a food researcher who goes on a blind date disguised as her wealthy friend to scare off a potential suitor. That suitor turns out to be Kang Tae-moo, the newly appointed CEO of Ha-ri's company. What follows is a high-stakes identity deception that quickly spirals into genuine affection. Understanding why this series resonated with millions requires looking closely at the performers who brought these roles to life.
The Dynamic Leads: Ahn Hyo-seop and Kim Se-jeong
The primary engine of Business Proposal is the sharp contrast between Ahn Hyo-seop's rigid, perfectionist CEO and Kim Se-jeong's chaotic, quick-witted corporate employee. Their on-screen pairing earned them a Best Couple Award at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards, anchoring the series with a blend of physical comedy and emotional vulnerability.
Ahn Hyo-seop as Kang Tae-moo
Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kang Tae-moo, a brilliant workaholic CEO obsessed with efficiency who agrees to a marriage arrangement simply to stop his grandfather's constant matchmaking. While the character starts as a textbook icy executive, Ahn infuses Tae-moo with an awkward earnestness—especially when he tries to win Ha-ri over with excessive displays of wealth and food.
Before taking on this role, Ahn built a strong television resume with notable performances in SBS productions like Dr. Romantic 2 and Lovers of the Red Sky. In Business Proposal, he balanced the visual styling of a wealthy heir with comedic self-awareness, letting the audience laugh with his character's ridiculous schemes rather than just at them.
Kim Se-jeong as Shin Ha-ri
Kim Se-jeong delivers a tour-de-force performance as Shin Ha-ri, an ordinary researcher who is willing to go to absurd lengths to protect her job and pay off her family's debts. Kim's background as an idol in groups like I.O.I and Gugudan translates directly into her fearless physical comedy and expressive facial acting.
Whether she's channeling her alter-ego "Shin Geum-hee" with exaggerated confidence or panicking in a stairwell to avoid being caught by her boss, Kim grounds the surreal premise in relatable anxiety. Her previous work in projects like The Uncanny Counter proved her dramatic range, but Business Proposal cemented her status as a premier romantic comedy lead.
The Supporting Couples and Ensemble Depth
A major reason the series avoided mid-season pacing lags is its robust secondary romance. While K-dramas often struggle with uninteresting subplots, the secondary couple captured just as much fan devotion as the main leads.
Seol In-ah and Kim Min-kyu
Seol In-ah stars as Jin Young-seo, Ha-ri's wealthy best friend who despises arranged marriages and falls headfirst for Tae-moo's loyal chief secretary, Cha Sung-hoon, played by Kim Min-kyu.
- Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah): Young-seo breaks away from the cold chaebol-friend cliché by being fiercely loyal, fiercely independent, and wonderfully clumsy in her romantic pursuits.
- Cha Sung-hoon (Kim Min-kyu): As Tae-moo's right-hand man, Kim portrays a composed secretary whose steady demeanor masks a fierce loyalty. The pairing's electric chemistry—highlighted by viral moments like the glasses-removal scene—provided a distinct, fast-moving secondary dynamic.
The Corporate and Family Supporting Cast
The broader workplace and family dynamics added necessary grounding to the romantic arcs:
- Lee Deok-hwa plays Chairman Kang, Tae-moo's matchmaking grandfather whose obsession with K-dramas becomes a brilliant meta-joke within the series itself.
- Kim Kwang-kyu and Jung Young-gil portray Ha-ri's hardworking parents, running a local chicken restaurant that serves as the backdrop for many family squabbles and comforting meals.
- Choi Byung-chan plays Shin Ha-min, Ha-ri's younger brother, adding typical sibling friction to her domestic life.
Why the Adaptation Stood Out
Business Proposal is based on a popular web novel and webtoon by HaeHwa and Narak. Adapting webtoons into live-action series often results in tonal whiplash, but director Park Seon-ho leaned heavily into stylized, comic-book-inspired transitions, sound effects, and visual gags.
Instead of hiding the source material's exaggerated premise, the production embraced it. The result was a fast-paced, 12-episode run that cut out unnecessary filler, keeping viewer engagement high throughout its initial broadcast window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I stream Business Proposal?
The series is available for international streaming on Netflix, where it consistently ranked among the platform's top non-English television shows during its broadcast run.
Is Business Proposal based on a true story?
No, the drama is a fictional adaptation of a web novel and webtoon originally published on KakaoPage.
Will there be a second season of Business Proposal?
SBS and the production team wrapped the story neatly in a 12-episode format that covers the primary narrative arc of the original webtoon, and no official second season has been commissioned.
Who sang the official soundtrack for the show?
The series features several popular K-pop artists on its OST, including MeloMance, VICTON, and Lee Seung-yoon, with MeloMance's track "Love, Maybe" becoming a major chart hit in South Korea.
