Korean dramas are considered to be the mood lifters because of their light-hearted storyline mostly in the genre of romance and comedy. But it becomes even more enjoyable when You find a drama that mixes both of them together. You can find many dramas that serve both romance and comedy but very few of them can make their place in the hearts of the viewers and Business Proposal is one of them. In the year of 2022, this drama came out as a storm and pulled the hearts of so many fans and made them a loyal fanbase. In this article, Business Proposal full review, we are going to talk about this drama as I will try to give a review of this superfine drama.
Plot Overview
The story is about four people who are totally different from each other but are connected to each other somehow. Shin Ha Ri is the main female lead of our drama. She is just a normal girl who has a decent job at a renowned company. Her best friend is Jin Young Seo who is a chaebol, and asks her to replace her on a date that her father fixed for her because she wants to marry for love, not for business. When Shin Ha Ri meets Young Seo’s date as Young Seo she does so many weird things to break off the marriage. But that man is still ready to marry her. Later she comes to know that the man is Kang Tae Moo who is the CEO of the company where she works as an employee. Meanwhile, Jin Young Seo falls in love with the best friend and chief secretary of Kang Tae Moo. Soon Shin Hari and Kang Tae Moo clear all their mistakes and misjudgements and they too fall in love with each other for real.
Meet the Characters
Let me introduce you to the main characters of the drama. As for the main characters, we have Shin Ha Ri, Kang Tae Moo, Jin Young Seo and Cha Seung Hoon. The other characters are also worthy to mention but we are going to talk only about the main characters.
Shin Ha Ri
Shin Ha Ri is a simple girl who comes from a middle-class family. This role of Shin Ha Ri was played by Kim Sejeong. She works in a company called Go Food, she is so passionate about her work. She is so positive, energetic and smart. From her very childhood, she likes one of her guy friends and later finds out he already has a girlfriend and her heart breaks into pieces. At this moment of life, she meets Kang Tae Moo while she is in disguise. Both of them fall in love for real and it comes to Shin Ha R’s life as a blessing.
Kang Tae Moo
The handsome actor Ahn Hyo Seop portrayed the character of Kang Tae Moo. Kang Tae Moo is a workaholic and also the CEO of Go Food. He is young and handsome but in his whole life he never dated anyone, he meets Shin Ha Ri who was in disguise and decides to marry her to escape from the blind date his grandfather chooses. But when he falls in love with Shin Ha Ri he becomes a totally different person.
Jin Young Seo
The role of Jin Young Seo is played by Seol In Ah. She is the best friend of Shin Ha Ri, actually, they are more like sisters. Jin Young Seo is a chaebol who lives with her father. Her father wants her to marry whomever he chooses but Young Seo wants to be independent and wants to marry for love and that’s why she sends Shin Ha Ri to ruin the date. Later she meets the love of her life.
Cha Seung Hoon
Cha Seung Hoon is the secretary as well as the best friend of Kang Tae Moo. He is very handsome and intelligent. He is also very good at his job. He is like a shadow of Tae Moo. This charismatic role was played by Kim Min Kyu.
Cultural Context
Business Proposal is not just a story that presents a heartwarming love story of some couples, it also shows the modern dating culture of South Korea as well as workplace dynamics. The actual story of the drama starts with the blind date that was planned by the family members of two young people. In South Korea blind dates are so common that it has become a culture over there. Mostly the family members arrange the dates for their children with the hope of finding a companion for them with the thought of marriage or success. As in this drama we see Jin Young Seo’s father and Kang Tae Moo’s grandfather set a date for them to marry which will help their business to grow. But Young Seo didn’t like the idea and sent Shin Ha Ri to ruin that date for her.
In this drama, we also notice the growing emphasis on corporate life in South Korea. We see characters like Kang Tae Moo, Shin Ha Ri and other main or side characters of the drama who are very serious about their work. Some of the characters are serious workaholics, their characters show the South Korean’s professionalism. Jin Young Seo is a Chaebol and still she wants to set up her own company, she wants to be independent by not joining her father’s company but starting her own. The show handles all the sensitive things of a South Korean society with humor and charm and makes it feel lighthearted rather than inappropriate.
Visuals and OSTs
The visuals of the drama Business Proposal are literally a gift to the eyes of the viewers. The cherry blossoms, the mountains and even the seaside that is shown in this drama are so soothing that give a refreshing vibe. If for a second we move on from nature, the well-chosen color palette made this drama engaging too. The vibrant colors that are used in this drama and the skilled cinematography of this drama add a different charm. The surroundings and atmosphere from the office to the Seoul streets everything holds its own beauty. The costume directors also deserve praise because all the characters’ outfits reflect who they are and where they belong.
We can also evidence the presence of the director’s skillful eye for visual storytelling. The romantic close-ups, melodrama and comedy everything was on time when you needed it, nothing overpowering another.
One more thing that took a significant part in making this drama a huge hit of 2022 is its loving soundtrack. Here we are going to talk about all the OSTs of the drama below.
Soothing OSTs
There are a total of 10 official and 2 unofficial soundtracks in the drama Business Proposal, which not only enhances the beauty of the drama but also connects the audience with the story and the strong emotions of the characters. Now I am going to give you a list of the songs and I will also let you know the most popular one, the best one, the fan favorite and the masterpiece track from the list.
Shortlist:
- Sweet by Lee Mujin
- Love, Maybe by Secret Number
- Sun Shower by Movning
- You Are Mine by Victon
- Fall in Love by Weeekly
- Whatever You Want by Han Seung Yun
- Closer by Song Haye
- Spring Breeze by New (THE BOYZ)
- It’s Up To You by Moon Sujin
- Melting by BamBam
- Love, Maybe by MeloMance (Special)
- Love, Maybe by Kim Sejeong (Special)
Most Popular:
The most popular OST from the list is Love, Maybe by Secret Number. This OST is loved for its romantic lyrics and the sweet melody. The band Secret Number perfectly delivered the playful theme of the drama, and it became one of the most remembered songs of the drama. You can also find this song in the voices of MeloMance and Kim Sejeong in different versions.
The Best One:
Sweet by Lee Mujin is considered to be the best soundtrack of this drama. Lee Mujin’s voice is always so unique and has a soft vibe for which his high notes are also soothing and give relief to one’s ear. The lyrics are nice and the melody is enjoyable too. This song really suited the story and emotions of the drama.
Fan Favorite:
The fans of Business Proposal often express their love for the song Melting sung by BamBam. This song gives a unique vibe and the catchy tune attracts the fans for which they mostly adore this one. BamBam decorates this song in his own style that adds a refreshing twist among the other tracks.
The Masterpiece:
Spring Breeze sung by New of The Boyz is for sure a masterpiece among all the songs of the drama. The emotional lyrics of the drama make us feel warmth and somehow make us feel love. In simple words, you can call this song poetic beauty. New’s voice gave this song an amazing push that made it one of the songs that leaves a long-lasting impression on the hearts of the viewers.
The drama Business Proposal is for sure a drama that super finely mixes humor, romance, melodrama and professionalism all together. The charismatic characters, breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and melodious OSTs together made it a successful show that can make you cry as well as laugh out loud. Watching this drama you also can learn about Korean culture.
With all the qualities of a successful romantic comedy this drama hit all the box office and has the capability to capture a special place in your heart as well. So don’t wait and start watching this must-watch drama, and smile, cry and love with the characters.