| Quick facts | |
|---|
| Format | Webtoon, 124 chapters, 10 volumes |
| Run | 2018–2022 · completed |
| Community score | AniList 7.9 · MAL 7.9 · MangaUpdates 7.9 |
| Where to read | Tapas — official |
Overview
Business Proposal is an office romantic comedy that takes a stack of beloved tropes and plays them with total, winning commitment. Shin Ha-ri agrees to go on a blind date in place of her rich best friend, Jin Young-seo, who wants to be rejected so her family will stop setting her up. The plan: show up in disguise, act unbearable, get dumped. The problem: the date is Kang Tae-mu, the cold, ridiculously handsome CEO of the very company Ha-ri works for — and instead of being put off, he decides this "woman" is exactly the no-nonsense partner he needs, and proposes a contract relationship to get his own family off his back. Now Ha-ri has to juggle a fake identity, a real job, and a boss who has no idea who she actually is. It's by HaeHwa with art by Narak, and it's complete on Tapas.
What it does well
It's relentlessly fun. Business Proposal knows exactly what it is and delivers it with zero hesitation — the mistaken identity, the contract romance, the cold CEO slowly melting, the near-misses where Ha-ri almost gets caught. The comedy is sharp and the pacing is brisk, so it zips along on charm and momentum without ever sagging. It's the definition of a feel-good binge.
The leads are easy to root for. Ha-ri is funny, warm, and refreshingly down-to-earth, and Tae-mu's stiff, clueless arrogance thawing into devotion is exactly the wish-fulfillment the genre promises. Their chemistry pops.
And then there's the secondary couple — Young-seo and Tae-mu's unflappable secretary, Sung-hoon — who are so good they often steal the show. A second romance that's this beloved is rare, and it gives the series double the swoon.
Where it falls short
It's pure trope, and not pretending otherwise. If you've read or watched any office romcom, you'll see every beat coming — the misunderstandings, the jealous rivals, the dramatic reveal of the hidden identity — and Business Proposal executes them with style rather than reinventing them. There are no surprises here, just well-made comfort food.
It's also light as air. The conflicts are low-stakes and quickly resolved, the characters are charming but not deep, and the whole thing prioritizes fun over substance. If you want grounded realism or emotional complexity, this isn't the place. It's a sugar rush, and it's meant to be.
Verdict
Business Proposal is a delightful, shamelessly tropey office romcom that earns its huge popularity through sheer charm, a brisk pace, and a second couple people adore. It's not deep or original — it's comfort food with the dial turned to maximum — but it's funny, sweet, and complete, and few romcoms are this purely enjoyable. If you want a feel-good binge (or a companion to the K-drama), it's an easy yes.
