Business Proposal
A Business Proposal (Korean: 사내 맞선; RR: Sanae Matchin; lit. "Office Blind Date") is a 2022 South Korean romantic comedy television series starring Kim Se-jeong as Shin Ha-ri, Ahn Hyo-seop as Kang Tae-moo, Lee Min-ho as Cha Sung-hoon, and Seol In-ah as Jin Young-seo.[1][2] The series, which aired on SBS from February 28 to April 5, 2022, consists of 12 episodes broadcast on Mondays and Tuesdays.[2] Adapted from a web novel and webtoon of the same name published by Kakao Entertainment, it centers on Shin Ha-ri, a researcher at a food company, who agrees to impersonate her wealthy friend on a blind date arranged by the friend's grandfather, only to discover that her date is Kang Tae-moo, the newly appointed CEO of her company, who subsequently proposes a contractual marriage.[3][4] The plot unfolds as Ha-ri navigates the complications of her deception while Tae-moo, portrayed as a driven executive uninterested in romance until pressured by family, pursues a pragmatic union that evolves into genuine affection amid workplace dynamics and personal growth for supporting characters like the vice president Cha Sung-hoon and his bold counterpart Jin Young-seo.[1] Produced by Studio Dragon and distributed internationally via Netflix starting February 2022, the series drew significant viewership, topping Netflix's non-English TV rankings in multiple weeks and earning praise for its lighthearted tropes, strong ensemble chemistry, and faithful yet enhanced adaptation of the source material's office romance elements.[5][6] With an IMDb rating of 8.1 from over 37,000 users, it exemplifies the global appeal of K-dramas blending humor, heartfelt moments, and class-crossing narratives without notable controversies, solidifying its status as a benchmark in the genre.[1][7]
Synopsis
A Business Proposal follows Shin Ha-ri, a dedicated food researcher at a company, who harbors a long-standing crush on her male friend but learns he has a girlfriend. To assist her best friend Jin Young-seo, who dreads an arranged blind date, Ha-ri disguises herself and attends in her place with the intent to repel the suitor. The blind date is Kang Tae-moo, Ha-ri's CEO and heir to the company, who, exasperated by his grandfather's persistent matchmaking efforts, resolves to marry the next woman he encounters on such a date.[8][1][2] Mistaking the disguised Ha-ri for Young-seo, Tae-moo proposes marriage on the spot. When the truth emerges that Ha-ri is not Young-seo, Tae-moo leverages the deception by threatening to expose her impersonation to their employer unless she agrees to a contractual fake relationship to satisfy his grandfather's demands. Ha-ri reluctantly complies, leading to workplace complications as their pretense unfolds. Meanwhile, Young-seo enters the company as an employee to aid Ha-ri, introducing further romantic entanglements involving Tae-moo's secretary and other colleagues.[8][1][2] The narrative explores the evolving dynamics between Ha-ri and Tae-moo amid corporate pressures, family expectations, and budding affections, blending elements of romance, comedy, and professional intrigue across 12 episodes.[8][1]Cast and Characters
Principal Roles
Ahn Hyo-seop portrays Kang Tae-moo, the 30-year-old CEO of Go Food, a subsidiary of his family's chaebol conglomerate, who seeks a contractual marriage to satisfy his grandfather's demands for him to wed and produce an heir.[9] [10] Kim Se-jeong plays Shin Ha-ri, a dedicated food researcher at Go Food who disguises herself to attend a blind date on behalf of her friend, only to discover her date is her company's new president, leading to a series of workplace and romantic complications.[8] [1] Seol In-ah embodies Jin Young-seo, Shin Ha-ri's best friend and the daughter of a wealthy family, who avoids an arranged blind date by having Ha-ri impersonate her, inadvertently sparking the central plot.[11] [12] Kim Min-kyu depicts Cha Sung-hoon, Shin Ha-ri's longtime office crush and a colleague at Go Food, whose own romantic entanglements develop alongside the main storyline.[13] [11]Supporting Roles
Lee Deok-hwa portrayed Kang Da-goo, the elderly chairman of Foods Central Inc. and Kang Tae-moo's grandfather, who actively schemes to arrange his grandson's marriage to ensure family succession.[11] Choi Byung-chan played Shin Ha-min, Shin Ha-ri's younger brother, a university student who provides comic relief through his protective yet bumbling support for his sister's romantic endeavors.[11][14] Jung Young-joo acted as Han Mi-mo, Shin Ha-ri's mother, who frequently nags her daughter about marriage while dealing with family financial pressures.[11] Kim Kwang-kyu depicted Jang Seong-tae, Kang Tae-moo's loyal secretary, whose efficient yet overly enthusiastic assistance often leads to humorous misunderstandings in the office.[11] Lee Ji-hoon appeared as Lee Min-woo, Shin Ha-ri's longtime office crush and a colleague whose obliviousness contributes to the central romantic mix-ups.[13] Additional supporting performers included Kim Young-dae as a minor executive and various family members or colleagues who fill out workplace and domestic scenes, enhancing the ensemble dynamics without driving the primary plot arcs.[13] These roles collectively underscore the drama's themes of familial expectations and corporate hierarchy, providing contrast to the lead characters' personal growth.[8]Guest Appearances
The South Korean television series Business Proposal includes cameo appearances by musical acts integrated into key scenes. In episode 3, the indie duo MeloMance makes a special on-screen appearance as themselves, performing their track "Love, Maybe" during a concert sequence attended by protagonists Shin Ha-ri and Kang Tae-moo, which doubles as a pivotal date moment in the storyline.[15][16][17] This performance ties into the series' original soundtrack, where MeloMance contributes the song as a special track.[18] Additional subtle nods to the K-pop group BTS occur without direct on-screen presence from members; in episode 9, their songs "Blood Sweat & Tears" and "Dynamite" play during a company drinking game, prompting characters to dance and reference the group.[19][20] Episode 10 features a verbal mention of BTS member Jungkook by characters, highlighted by the director as an intentional inclusion.[21][22] Minor guest roles fill episodic needs, such as Kim Won-shik as Mr. Park of Go Food in episode 1, Kim Seo-jun as a marker boy in episode 1, and Kang Hak-soo as Mr. Park's friend in episode 1, primarily supporting early blind-date and workplace setups.[11] These one-off portrayals by lesser-known actors contrast with the higher-profile musical cameos, emphasizing the series' blend of romance and pop culture references.Source Material
Original Web Novel
The web novel A Business Proposal, originally titled Sanae Matseon (사내 맞선) in Korean, was serialized on the KakaoPage platform starting August 3, 2017.[23] Authored by Haehwa, the story comprises 112 chapters, with serialization concluding on February 20, 2022.[23] Haehwa, who debuted on KakaoPage prior to this work, built a readership through earlier serializations, though specific biographical details remain limited in public records.[10] The narrative centers on Shin Ha-ri, an overworked employee at a large conglomerate, who agrees to impersonate her wealthy friend Jin Young-seo on a blind date arranged by Young-seo's father to deter a suitor.[24] Unbeknownst to Ha-ri, the blind date is Kang Tae-moo, the strict CEO of her company, who proposes a contractual marriage upon recognizing her after the disastrous setup.[24] The plot explores themes of mistaken identities, office romance, and personal growth amid corporate pressures, blending comedic elements with romantic tension.[25] The novel gained significant traction on KakaoPage, contributing to over 450 million cumulative views across its web novel and subsequent adaptations by the time of the drama's release.[26] It was later compiled into print volumes, with English translations published starting in 2023, reflecting its enduring appeal in the romance genre.[27] Unlike later adaptations, the original emphasizes Ha-ri's internal monologues and workplace dynamics without visual embellishments.[28]Webtoon Adaptation
The webtoon adaptation of A Business Proposal (Korean: 사내 맞선, lit. "Office Blind Date"), based on Haehwa's 2017 web novel, was adapted for the format by Perilla and illustrated by NARAK.[29][30] Serialization commenced in 2018 on KakaoPage, Korea's leading digital platform for webcomics under Kakao Entertainment, and concluded prior to the 2022 television adaptation.[26][31] Retaining the core premise of an employee, Shin Ha-ri, disguising herself for a friend's blind date only to encounter her company's CEO, Kang Tae-moo—who counters with a sham marriage proposal to evade his own familial pressures—the webtoon emphasizes visual humor, exaggerated expressions, and romantic tropes typical of the genre.[32][3] Kakao Entertainment's in-house novel-to-comics pipeline facilitated the transition, enhancing the original text's accessibility through dynamic paneling and character designs that amplified comedic timing.[33] The series amassed substantial readership on KakaoPage, bolstering its IP value and paving the way for international licensing.[31] An English digital version launched on Tapas, Kakao's U.S.-facing platform, where it contributed to the site's rom-com dominance alongside titles like What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?.[34] In May 2023, IZE Press released the first English print volume in the U.S., developed over 10 months with NARAK's oversight to preserve artistic fidelity, followed by Yen Press handling subsequent volumes.[3][29] This physical edition sold over 40,000 copies by year-end, reflecting sustained demand post-drama premiere.[35]Production
Development
The television adaptation of Business Proposal originated from KakaoPage's web novel The Office Blind Date (Saenae Matchseon), serialized between 2017 and 2018, which garnered significant readership and led to a webtoon version illustrated by Dalpi.[2] In August 2020, KakaoPage announced plans to directly plan and produce the drama through its recently acquired subsidiary Kross Pictures, marking an in-house initiative to expand the IP across formats including drama, OST, and multimedia extensions while targeting global markets from the initial planning stage.[36] [37] Kross Pictures secured the adaptation rights to the webtoon, which had amassed millions of followers, and collaborated with screenplay writers to emphasize relatable character dynamics, particularly the humorous and resilient protagonist Shin Ha-ri, facilitating attraction of high-profile actors during early casting preparations.[38] The project was positioned to succeed Our Beloved Summer in SBS's Monday-Tuesday evening slot, with production focusing on universal rom-com tropes like mistaken identities and workplace romance to enhance cross-cultural appeal, informed by Kross Pictures' prior experience adapting web-based content such as Cheese in the Trap.[8] [38] Development faced logistical adjustments due to COVID-19 outbreaks, postponing the filming schedule and shifting the premiere from February 21 to February 28, 2022, to ensure crew safety while maintaining the planned 12-episode structure.[39] Kakao Entertainment's integrated approach, leveraging its platform data for viewer insights, underscored a strategy of IP verticalization, where original content informed script refinements to amplify comedic elements and visual fidelity to the webtoon's aesthetic.[40] This pre-production phase prioritized scalable storytelling, contributing to the series' subsequent international distribution via Netflix.[41]Casting
Ahn Hyo-seop was the first lead actor confirmed for "A Business Proposal," accepting the role of the chaebol heir Kang Tae-moo on June 10, 2021.[42] Kim Se-jeong joined as the female lead Shin Ha-ri two months later, with her agency confirming her participation on August 2, 2021.[43] The supporting leads were announced shortly after, as Seol In-ah was cast as Jin Young-seo and Kim Min-kyu as Cha Sung-hoon on August 3, 2021.[44] Additional roles, such as Shin Ha-min played by VICTON member Choi Byung-chan, were confirmed by August 13, 2021.[45] The principal cast participated in their first script reading on January 17, 2022, where they demonstrated strong chemistry, with the reading attended by director Park Sun-ho and writers Han Sul-hee and Hong Bo-hee.[46] Filming commenced in early 2022, with the cast introducing their characters during the first shooting on March 1, 2022.[47] No public details emerged regarding competitive auditions or casting challenges, indicating a process driven by agency negotiations and actor availability following initial offers reported between March and May 2021. The selections aligned with the production's aim to blend established rising stars capable of portraying the rom-com's blend of corporate satire and romantic tropes.Filming
Principal photography for A Business Proposal occurred primarily in South Korea, utilizing a mix of urban Seoul settings, studio interiors, and provincial landscapes to capture the series' blend of corporate office romance and scenic getaways. Filming wrapped ahead of the February 28, 2022, premiere on SBS, with production adhering to COVID-19 protocols amid ongoing disruptions in the industry.[48] Key locations included Lotte World in Seoul's Songpa-gu district, where amusement park sequences featuring bumper cars and merry-go-rounds were shot from 18:00 to 03:00 to minimize public interference.[49] [50] Coastal and business trip scenes were filmed in Gangwon-do province, such as Surfyy Beach (Junggwanjeong Beach) in Yangyang-gun for beachside moments and Sokcho-si for broader coastal exteriors.[49] [50] Additional sites encompassed Namsan Tower in Seoul for panoramic views in a reflective scene, Yangjae-dong Flower Market for a bouquet purchase sequence, and Songwol Maemilguksu in Yangyang-gun for a noodle shop encounter.[50] Restaurants and cafes served as frequent backdrops, including The River Bella Cucina in Seoul's Seocho-gu for a Han River-view dinner date, Meongteongguri Tteokbokki in Nowon-gu for casual hangouts, Eunsung Beef in Yeongdeungpo-gu for a barbecue gathering, and Cafe Sandeul Hill in Daegu's Suseong-gu doubling as the protagonist's family fried chicken exterior.[49] [50] Further exteriors utilized Yeonnamjang hotel in Seodaemun-gu as a chef's restaurant, Moromikushi Gwanggyo in Suwon's Yeongtong-gu for a side couple's meeting, and studios like Joain Studio in Yongin-si for interior breakfast scenes.[49] [50] The production encountered health challenges when lead actress Kim Se-jeong and supporting actor Byung-chan (VICTON) tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2022, though Se-jeong had completed filming beforehand, ensuring no delays to airing.[48] Director Park Sun-ho oversaw the shoots, emphasizing natural lighting and dynamic camera work to enhance the rom-com tone, with post-production finalizing the 12-episode run by early 2022.[51]Release and Distribution
A Business Proposal premiered on SBS in South Korea on February 28, 2022, airing episodes every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 KST until its finale on April 5, 2022, for a total of 12 episodes each approximately 60 minutes in length.[8][2] The series was produced by SBS and distributed domestically through its television network, achieving high ratings during its run, with the finale episode recording a nationwide rating of 11.4% according to Nielsen Korea.[1] Internationally, the drama was distributed via Netflix, which released episodes globally starting February 7, 2022, ahead of the South Korean broadcast in some regions to capitalize on simultaneous streaming.[5] Netflix handled worldwide licensing and subtitling, making it available in multiple languages and contributing to its strong performance on the platform's non-English TV charts, where it topped global rankings for several weeks.[4][52] No theatrical release occurred, as the series was formatted exclusively for television and streaming.Soundtrack
Original Soundtrack Album
The original soundtrack album for Business Proposal compiles the vocal tracks and background music from the series, featuring contributions from multiple K-pop artists and composers. Released digitally on April 6, 2022, via platforms including Apple Music and Spotify, the album contains 35 tracks spanning approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, including both original songs and instrumental versions. A physical 2-CD edition followed on April 20, 2022, bundled with a 64-page booklet, 13 lyrics cards, and additional photocards in some versions.[53][54] Key vocal tracks highlight the romantic themes of the drama, with the lead single "Love, Maybe" (사랑인가 봐) performed by MeloMance serving as the main theme, released earlier on February 28, 2022, as Part 1 of the OST. Other prominent songs include "Sweet" (스윗해) by Lee Mujin, "You Are Mine" by VICTON, "Sun Shower" by MOVNING, and "Melting" by BamBam, each released in sequential parts during the show's airing from February to March 2022. Additional artists on the album encompass SECRET NUMBER, SEJEONG, and WOO JI HUN, with instrumentals composed by figures such as Park Sejun and Kim Min Ji to underscore key scenes.[55][56] The album's tracklist is divided across two discs in the physical release, with CD1 focusing primarily on vocal highlights and CD2 on extended background scores:| Track | Title | Artist/Composer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Love, Maybe | MeloMance |
| 2 | Sweet | Lee Mujin |
| 3 | You Are Mine | VICTON |
| 4 | Sun Shower | MOVNING |
| 5 | Melting | BamBam |
| ... | (Additional vocals and variants) | Various |
| (CD2) | Be Mine / Cream Shake / Instrumentals | WOO JI HUN, Park Sejun, Kim Min Ji et al. |
Singles and Chart Performance
The original soundtrack for A Business Proposal included multiple digital singles released in parts from February to March 2022, ahead of the full album's issuance on April 6, 2022. These tracks, performed by various artists, primarily achieved commercial success through digital streaming and downloads on platforms tracked by the Circle Chart (formerly Gaon). While most exhibited modest peaks typical of drama OST releases, "Love, Maybe" (사랑인가 봐) by MeloMance stood out as the project's commercial highlight. Released as a special track on March 21, 2022, it amassed over 668 million streams, securing the fourth position on the 2022 Circle Digital Chart year-end rankings.[59]| Single | Artist | Release Date | Notable Chart Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet (스윗해) | Lee Mujin | February 28, 2022 | Peaked at #169 on Gaon Digital Chart (week 11, 2022) |
| You Are Mine | VICTON | March 7, 2022 | Peaked at #57 on Gaon Download Chart |
| Love, Maybe | MeloMance | March 21, 2022 | #4 on 2022 Circle year-end digital chart; charted on Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 (peak #6)[59][60] |