Let’s be real. We didn't watch Business Proposal for a groundbreaking, philosophical exploration of the human condition. We watched it because watching a starchy, high-powered CEO lose his mind over a fake date is top-tier comfort food. It’s that specific mix of the "accidental" lie, the ridiculous wig, and the eventual, inevitable melting of a cold heart.
Finding dramas like Business Proposal isn't just about finding another show with an office setting. It's about finding that exact vibe—the "Screaming into your pillow because they finally held hands" energy.
The 2022 hit, based on the webtoon The Office Blind Date, set a massive bar. It was fast. It was funny. It didn't take itself too seriously. If you're looking for that same dopamine hit, you have to look for shows that understand the "Contract Marriage" or "Secret Identity" tropes without making them feel like a chore to sit through. Honestly, some of these shows even do it better.
What Actually Makes a Show Feel Like Business Proposal?
It’s the pacing. Seriously. Most K-dramas drag out the "will they, won't they" for twelve episodes of agonizing missed connections. Business Proposal gave us the "Archaeopteryx" jokes and fast-tracked the chemistry.
If you want more dramas like Business Proposal, you’re looking for a few specific ingredients. First: the power dynamic. It’s almost always a boss and an employee, or a rich heir and someone just trying to pay their rent. Second: the humor. It has to be a little bit "extra." Think sound effects, over-the-top secondary characters, and leads who are willing to look absolutely ridiculous for a laugh.
King the Land: The Natural Successor
If you haven't seen King the Land, stop what you're doing. It’s the closest spiritual sibling to Kang Tae-moo and Shin Ha-ri’s story. Gu Won (played by Lee Jun-ho) is the classic "I hate smiling" heir to a hotel empire. Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah) is the "I have to smile for work" employee.
It’s trope-heavy. Like, really heavy. You’ve got the accidental overseas trip, the "stuck in a room together" bit, and the massive grand gestures. But here’s the thing: the chemistry is nuclear. Jun-ho and Yoon-ah have been friends for years in real life, and it shows. The way he looks at her is enough to make anyone melt. It’s pure, unadulterated fluff. No heavy trauma, no serial killer subplots (which K-dramas love to toss in for some reason)—just vibes.
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim: The Blueprint
You can't talk about dramas like Business Proposal without mentioning What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim. It’s basically the gold standard of the office rom-com. Park Seo-joon plays Lee Young-joon, a man so narcissistic he literally glows in his own imagination.
When his perfect secretary, Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young), decides to quit to find herself, he has a total meltdown. It’s hilarious because he tries to "woo" her using business tactics. It’s got that same polished, high-end look as Business Proposal. The wardrobes are incredible. The office politics are mostly low-stakes. It’s just about two people realizing they’ve been in love for nine years and were too stubborn to notice.
Why the "Contract Relationship" Trope Still Works
People say they’re tired of the "fake dating" trope, but the ratings say otherwise. Why? Because it forces intimacy. When characters are "forced" to pretend to be together, they skip the awkward small talk and go straight to the "Oh no, we have to share a bed because there's only one room at this inn" stage.
Because This Is My First Life takes this trope and makes it a bit more grounded. It’s not as "slapstick" as Business Proposal, but it deals with the same "fake marriage for convenience" plot. It’s incredibly smart. It talks about the housing crisis in Seoul and the pressure on women to marry. If you want something a bit more thoughtful but still heart-wrenching, this is the one.
Then there’s Marriage, Not Dating. This one is older, but it's chaotic in the best way. The male lead is a plastic surgeon who wants to stay single, so he brings home a woman his family will hate just to get them off his back. It backfires. Obviously.
The Secret Ingredient: The Second Lead Couple
One reason Business Proposal was such a juggernaut was Cha Sung-hoon and Jin Young-seo. Their "crossed lines" scene? Iconic. Sometimes the second leads are actually more interesting than the main couple because they don't have to carry the heavy plot lifting.
In Touch Your Heart, we get a meta-experience. Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na (who were the tragic second couple in Goblin) get a second chance at love. She’s a washed-up actress working as a secretary to research a role; he’s a prickly lawyer. It’s sweet, it’s light, and the side characters at the law firm provide that same "Greek chorus" of comedy you see at GO Food in Business Proposal.
Breaking Down the "Hidden Identity" Element
Shin Ha-ri pretending to be the "bad girl" Samantha (and Rachel) is a highlight of Business Proposal. That fear of being caught keeps the tension high.
Her Private Life plays with this beautifully. Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young again, the queen of this genre) is a professional art curator by day and a hardcore K-pop fangirl by night. She has to keep her "stanning" a secret from her new boss, Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook).
Ryan Gold is, quite frankly, one of the best-written male leads in rom-com history. He’s supportive, he’s not a jerk, and when he finds out her secret, he doesn't mock her. He helps her. It’s got that same "secret world" tension that made Ha-ri’s life so stressful and funny.
Sh**ting Stars (Shooting Stars)
This one is set in the world of celebrity PR. It’s about the people who clean up the messes of famous actors. The lead couple has a "hate-to-love" history that goes back to college. It’s fast-paced and gives a really fun (though probably exaggerated) look at the entertainment industry. The bickering is top-tier. If you liked the "bickering like an old married couple" energy of Business Proposal, you’ll get it here in spades.
When the CEO Isn't a Total Jerk
The "Cold CEO" is a bit of a cliché. Sometimes it's nice when the boss is actually just... a person?
In Dali and the Cocky Prince, we get Jin Moo-hak. He’s rich, but he’s not "refined." He grew up poor, his family made their money selling gamjatang (pork bone soup), and he measures everything in terms of how many bowls of soup it’s worth. He falls for Dali, a refined, art-loving woman whose life is falling apart.
It’s a "reverse" of the trope in some ways. He’s the one with the money, but she’s the one with the "class." Their chemistry is incredibly unique. It’s loud, colorful, and surprisingly emotional.
Short, Punchy Dramas for the Busy Binge-Watcher
Business Proposal was only 12 episodes. Most K-dramas are 16. That shorter runtime meant there was no filler.
If you want a quick hit:
- Gaus Electronics: This is pure comedy. It’s about a struggling team in a corporate office. It’s more of a sitcom, but the romance that develops is surprisingly sweet.
- Mad for Each Other: Episodes are only 30 minutes. It’s about two neighbors who share the same psychiatrist. It’s hilarious, raw, and very fast.
- The Forbidden Marriage: If you’re willing to go historical (Saeguk), this has the exact same "con-artist girl tricks a powerful man" energy.
Common Misconceptions About These Dramas
People often think these shows are "brainless." That’s a mistake. Writing good comedy is harder than writing a tragedy. To make a "fake dating" plot work in 2026, you have to have tight scripts and actors with impeccable timing.
Another misconception is that they’re all the same. While they use the same building blocks, the cultural nuances change. A drama like Destined With You uses the "corporate CEO" trope but mixes it with ancient curses and shamanism. It’s weird, but it works because it stays grounded in the relationship.
Navigating the 2026 Drama Landscape
The way we watch these shows has changed. With platforms like Netflix, Viki, and Disney+ all fighting for K-content, we’re seeing higher production budgets. This means the offices look sleeker, the "rich" characters look richer, and the cinematography is film-quality.
However, don't ignore the "C-dramas" (Chinese Dramas) either. Love is Sweet or Perfect and Casual offer very similar "Boss/Employee" vibes with that same high-gloss finish. Sometimes they even lean harder into the fluff than K-dramas do.
Your Next Steps for the Perfect Binge
Don't just pick a random show. Tailor it to what you liked most about Business Proposal.
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If you liked the chaotic energy and fake identity, start Her Private Life.
If you liked the visuals and the "perfect" CEO, go with What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim.
If you want maximum fluff and modern 2020s production, watch King the Land.
Start by checking out the first two episodes of King the Land. In the K-drama world, the "two-episode rule" is real. If the chemistry doesn't click by the end of the second hour, it probably won't. But with these picks, you're usually safe. Grab some ramyeon, turn off your phone, and get ready to yell at your TV when they almost kiss for the fifth time.