Missing Business Proposal? Here are 7 binge-worthy K-dramas on Netflix & other OTT platforms starring the cast — Ahn Hyo Seop in Dr. Romantic, Kim Sejeong in The Uncanny Counter

If workplace love stories are your favourite rom-com K-dramas sub-genres, then you’ve most likely watched Business Proposal. The romantic comedy series is based on the webtoon of the same name, written by HaeHwa and illustrated by Narak. Business Proposal centres on an ordinary food researcher, Shin Ha Ri (Kim Sejeong), who agrees to go on a blind date on behalf of her best friend and chaebol heiress, Jin Young Seo (Seol In Ah), but comes to the staunch realisation that her date is her new boss Kang Tae Moo (Ahn Hyo Seop), CEO of Go Foods. Simultaneously, Young Seo falls hard for Tae Moo’s best friend and secretary, Cha Sung Hoon (Kim Min Kyu).

Thanks to the delectable chemistry shared between the lead couple, Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Sejeong, and the second lead couple, Kim Min Kyu and Seol In Ah, and the crisp and quirky storytelling, Business Proposal wasn’t just a success in South Korea but also basked in the glory of immense global popularity…

If you’re missing Business Proposal, here are 7 binge-worthy K-dramas starring the cast:

1. Dr. Romantic – Netflix & Viki (Seasons 1-2), Disney+ Hostar (Season 3)

Ahn Hyo Seop – whose performance in Business Proposal remains a fan-favourite – got to flex his acting chops as the brooding-yet-talented Dr. Seo Woo Jin in Dr. Romantic, for which the actor took home the Baeksang Award for Best New Actor – Television. The romance medical melodrama centres on a rundown hospital equipped with talented doctors, all of whom are mentored by the mysterious Kim Sa Bu (Han Suk Kyu). Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Sung Kyung joined the cast in Dr. Romantic 2 and reprised their roles in Dr. Romantic 3. Dr. Romantic also stars Yoo Yeon Seok, Seo Hyun Jin and Yang Se Jong, who headlined for the first season alongside Han Suk Kyu.

2. The Uncanny Counter – Netflix

Another multi-season addition to our list is The Uncanny Counter, in which Kim Sejeong – who charmed everyone with her charisma in Business Proposal – plays Counter’s rebellious member, Do Ha Na. The action thriller mystery fantasy drama is centred on Counters, a demon hunters squad who hunt for and fight against evil spirits that have escaped the afterlife to gain immortality by preying on humans. The members pose as workers at Eonni’s Noodles, a noodle shop that serves as their hideout. While The Uncanny Counter 2 dropped in 2023, the K-drama stars Jo Byeong Kyu, Yoo Jun Sang, Yeom Hye Ran, Ahn Suk Kwan and Yoo In Soo.

3. Backstreet Rookie – Netflix, Viki

If you couldn’t get enough of Kim Min Kyu in Business Proposal, get ready to be swept off your feet with the significant second lead syndrome in Backstreet Rookie. The slice-of-life workplace rom-com K-drama tells the love story between a convenience store manager and a young part-timer who falls for her boss at first glance. Kang Ji Uk, aka Puppy (Kim Min Kyu), the part-timer’s childhood friend and rising star, adds a love triangle. Backstreet Rookie also stars Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung.

4. Twinkling Watermelon – Viki

Seol In Ah’s popularity spiked thanks to Business Proposal, and Twinkling Watermelon is a more recent addition to the actress’ blossoming career graph. The coming-of-age time travel fantasy romance drama is centred around a musically gifted CODA boy who travels back to 1995 and forms a band called Watermelon Sugar with his then-young father. Seol In Ah does double duty as cello goddess Choi Se-kyung and her daughter On Eun Yoo. Twinkling Watermelon also stars Ryeoun, Choi Hyun Wook and Shin Eun Soo.

5. The Red Sleeve – Viki

Lee Deok Hwa’s endearing act as Kang Tae Moo’s eccentric grandfather and Geumhwa Group’s Founder and Chairman, Kang Da-goo, was adored by viewers. In a more serious appearance, the veteran actor stars as Yi San, aka King Jeongjo’s (2 PM member Lee Jun Ho) grandfather, King Yeongjo, in The Red Sleeve. The romance saeguk (historical drama) tells the fateful love story between the Joseon King, who places his duty towards his country above love, and a court lady who wants to protect the life of her choice. The Red Sleeve also stars Lee Se Young and Kang Hoon.

6. Our Blues – Netflix

Shin Ha Ri’s family was a highlight regarding the comedy elements in Business Proposal, especially her loveable father and fried chicken restaurant owner Shin Joong Hae (Kim Kwang Kyu). Kim Kwang Kyu has had supporting stints in many popular K-dramas, with a more recent one being Our Blues. The romance family melodrama, told in anthology format and one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history, explores the bittersweet lives and mental health of struggling people on Jeju Island. Kim Kwang Kyu plays the mischievous SS Bank branch manager Kim Myung Bo, who was classmates and childhood friends with Choi Han Soo (Cha Seung Won), Jeong Eun Hee (Lee Jung Eun), Go Mi Ran (Uhm Jung Hwa), Jung In Kwon (Park Ji Hwan) and Bang Ho Sik (Choi Young Joon). Our Blues also stars Lee Byung Hun, Shin Min Ah, Han Ji Min and Kim Woo Bin.

7. A Time Called You – Netflix

Shin Ha Ri’s Go Food colleagues were also hilarious additions to Business Proposal’s overall storytelling, including the maknae (youngest) Kim Hye Ji, played by Yoon Sang Jeong. Another popular K-drama which not only stars Yoon Sang Jeong (as Hye Mi) and Ahn Hyo Seop (in a double role as Koo Yeon-jun and Nam Si-heon) is A Time Called You. The mystery time travel fantasy romance drama centres on a woman grieving the loss of her boyfriend in the present time and is given an emotional second chance at life as she travels back to 1998, inhabiting the body of another person who is an 18-year-old student. There, she encounters a mysterious classmate (and his best friend who harbours a crush on her) who resembles her deceased boyfriend. A Time Called You also stars Jeon Yeo Been and Kang Hoon.