K-Drama Review: “Business Proposal” Delights In Exceptionally Sweet And Comedic Narrative

On the other hand, Cha Sung-hoon faces Jin Young-seo’s father through dinner. Sung-hoon assures Young-seo that everything will be fine, despite her initial hesitation about attending the invitation from her father.

Following her visit to Kang Tae-mu, Ha-ri receives unsettling news from Jin Young-seo. It is a scandal created by Yu-ra, that Ha-ri is two-timing President Kang with her seven-year-old crush on Min-woo.

With Shin Ha-ri’s harsh critics escalating rapidly, Chairman Kang’s primary concern is the company’s and his grandson’s image. As a result, he convinces Ha-ri to lie low or resign from her post for the time being.

Surprisingly, Ha-ri refuses to leave the company and proudly professes her love for Kang Tae-mu, believing that falling in love with him is perfectly acceptable.

When Tae-mu hears of the controversy afterwards, he immediately hurries to where Shin Ha-ri is. Embracing Ha-ri tightly, Tae-mu convinces her that she should never disappear again without saying anything.

Following the night they spent together, Tae-mu escorts Shin Ha-ri back to her house. But, they were caught by Ha-ri’s angry mother and her calm father.

During Tae-mu’s conversation with Ha’ri’s concerned father, he does not guarantee that his daughter will not be hurt, but he swears to always be by her side and has promised to protect her with his life.

Receiving a call from the hospital, Tae-mu discovers that his grandfather is terminally ill and that the cure is only available in the States. Requiring the needed assistance for his grandfather, Tae-mu encourages Ha-ri to also join him in the states.

However, Ha-ri refuses since it will only cause more buzz about them and that will affect the company and also his grandfather’s health since he still doesn’t approve of Ha-ri.

After a year, Cha Sung-hoon helps Jin Young-seo by investing in her own company as she cuts her ties with her father. Meanwhile, Ha-min notifies his sister about a scandal involving Tae-mu, who is rumored to be dating someone in the States.

This results in Ha-ri packing her belongings and directly confronting Kang Tae-mu. As she stuffs her belongings into the trunk of the cab, the passenger door opens and Tae-mu emerges. Ha-ri greets Kang Tae-mu joyously but lightly punches him for remaining silent about the issue.

Tae-mu informs her that he is unable to say anything further because he is on his way to her.

While walking to the park, considering he doesn’t like wasting his time anymore, Kang Tae-mu proposes to Shin Ha-ri. She enthusiastically accepts, and then Ha-ri and Tae-mu seal the proposal with a kiss.

With none of the several projects given to him having failed, President Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo Seop) accepts his grandfather’s offer to go on a blind date.

Convincing her best friend to go on a blind date her father arranges for her, Jin Young-seo (Seol In Ah) bribes Shin Ha-ri (Kim Sejeong), who is badly in need of money.

On the other hand, Young-seo crosses paths with Tae-mu’s secretary, Cha Sung-hoon (Kim Min Kyu), with whom she instantly falls in love.

Planning to get out of the blind date did not succeed, Ha-ri wards off the competent Kang Tae-mu. When he discovers that Shin Ha-ri is posing as Jin Young-seo on the blind date, he offers her another deal, which she eventually accepts.

The deal is for Shin Ha-ri to pretend to be his girlfriend to appease his grandfather’s demands.

Considering its conventional narrative of a love interest centered on a rich boss and an ordinary employee, it becomes surprisingly compelling and entertaining due to the series’ excellent direction and writing.

An additional factor is how the lead and supporting cast carry their characters for them to be able to harmonize with the story. From the humorous sequences to the romantic moments and even a touch of melodrama, the series is flawless in every way.

With that being said, this also serves as a stress-free drama, as it introduces a rather tiny bit of frustration when Yu-ra ruins Shin Ha-ri’s image purposefully. Nevertheless, that is hardly a crucial thing to consider, given that the protagonists all received the happy endings they deserved.

From the first few episodes, the two lead couples made single people jealous and craving for romance. That is because the characters’ stories appeared to be genuinely presented as if they were a story based on real-life experiences.

Beginning with their blind date, progressing to their pretend date, and finally to their real date, Kang Tae-mu and Shin Ha-ri’s pairing redefines romance. They prove that a relationship from nothing to something true is possible. Generously, they each demonstrated their affections for one another.

It verifies through Tae-mu’s commitment to wooing Ha-ri and even considering marriage in mind, as well as Ha-ri’s heartwarming comfort to Tae-mu’s traumatic past experience.

And, of course, Cha Sung-hoon and Jin Young-seo’s moments together as a couple also reflect an equal amount of give and take. Sung-hoon patiently listens to his girlfriend and earnestly explains to her when they have a disagreement.

On the other hand, Young-seo conveys her love for Sung-hoon by cutting ties with her father, since he did not approve of Sung-hoon for his daughter.

Loving the idea that the drama did not pit two strong women against one another, but rather gave an inspiring take on helping one another. This is what we see through Shin Ha-ri and Jin Young-seo’s friendship.

Notably, this encourages us to seek out the similar friendship that Ha-ri and Young-seo possess, despite the fact that they are not sisters by blood but through their hearts.

Encapsulating the whole series into words, Business Proposal suffices as comforting hugs for it brings us jam-packed rom-com bliss.

The main drawback is that it only has 12 episodes, which we can’t help but believe is insufficient. Nevertheless, the series did present us with the main characters’ happy endings, or, the beginnings of their stories.

Conversely, we admire the series’ creators for accomplishing such a remarkable feat. Making a cliche story into something unexpected is what draws us to their work even more.

Likewise, we commend the entire team’s efforts and wish them luck in securing an award for their outstanding performance in the series.

Apart from that, what we adore in the drama is a character with whom we can understand, and that is Chairman Kang. As a viewer, he is hopelessly awaiting as he, like us, immerses himself in Korean dramas.

Emphasizing in the series as well, Kang Tae-mu and Cha Sung-hoon are the standards. They who listen attentively to their chatty girlfriends and consistently demonstrate love languages such as gift-giving, physical touch, quality time, and words of assurance truly melt our hearts for exhibiting these precious gestures to their partners.

Finally, Business Proposal is a delightful drama that minimizes weighty issues and major conflicts in favor of a comfortable plot and endearing characters. Plus, there are two lead couples worth rooting for.

Watch the lighthearted narrative of Business Proposal, where all episodes are available on Netflix!