Business Proposal (2022) — Character Map & Story Timeline

AI Narrative Summary

The season follows two romances formed through deception, then tests whether genuine commitment can survive family pressure, workplace secrecy, and public scrutiny.

Character Network — 8 Characters

• Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop) — protagonist CEO of Go Food who agrees to marry his blind date partner to escape his grandfather's pressure. Unaware that his date is...
• Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) — protagonist An employee at Go Food who initially impersonates her friend on an arranged blind date. After her identity is exposed, s...
• Cha Sung-hoon (Kim Min-gue) The dedicated secretary to CEO Kang Tae-moo. He assists in creating a fake background for Shin Ha-ri to impress the chai...
• Jin Young-seo (Seol In-a) The friend who hires Shin Ha-ri to replace her on an arranged blind date. Later, she moves out to escape her father's ma...
• Kang Da-goo (Lee Duck-hwa) The chairman of Go Food's parent company and the grandfather of Kang Tae-moo. He exerts significant pressure on his gran...
• Go Yoo-ra (Bae Woo-hee)
• Jo Yoo-jung (Seo Hye-won)
• Lee Min-woo (Go Wook)

Key Relationships

• Shin Ha-ri → Jin Young-seo (Partners in deception) — They cooperate in a scheme that unintentionally connects Ha-ri to Tae-moo and changes both women's personal lives.

  "Young-seo asks Ha-ri to scare away her latest prospect by impersonating her, creating the false identity that drives the early episodes."

• Cha Sung-hoon → Jin Young-seo (Neighbors who become lovers) — Their romance grows from awkward proximity and Sung-hoon's resentment into mutual affection.

  "Young-seo moves out to escape her father's matchmaking pressure and discovers that Sung-hoon is her neighbor. Although he initially avoids her, he de...

• Kang Tae-moo → Cha Sung-hoon (CEO and secretary) — Sung-hoon is Tae-moo's trusted professional aide and helps him manage the deception surrounding Ha-ri.

  "Sung-hoon is Tae-moo's dedicated secretary and assists in creating a fake background for Ha-ri."

• Kang Tae-moo → Kang Da-goo (Family authority) — Da-goo's authority over the family strongly influences Tae-moo's decisions and threatens the couple's stability.

  "Tae-moo agrees to blind dates to appease Da-goo's wishes, and Da-goo later gives Ha-ri an ultimatum after her personal life becomes public."

• Kang Tae-moo → Shin Ha-ri (CEO and employee) — Their professional hierarchy creates the central complication in their romance and forces them to separate public work from private feelings.

  "Ha-ri works at Go Food while Tae-moo is its CEO. Their workplace relationship becomes difficult when they try to keep their romance secret from colle...

• Cha Sung-hoon → Jo Yoo-jung (Unwanted romantic attention) — Yoo-jung's attraction creates pressure on Sung-hoon and destabilizes his relationship with Young-seo.

  "Jo Yoo-jung falls for Sung-hoon in Episode 9, which puts him in a difficult situation with Young-seo."

• Jin Young-seo → Jo Yoo-jung (Romantic rivals) — Yoo-jung's feelings create a romantic rivalry that places Young-seo's relationship under strain.

  "Jo Yoo-jung's attraction to Sung-hoon leaves him in hot water with Young-seo."

• Go Yoo-ra → Shin Ha-ri (Romantic jealousy) — Yoo-ra's jealousy positions her against Ha-ri during the public display of Tae-moo's affection.

  "Go Yoo-ra is described as jealous when Tae-moo acts as Ha-ri's smitten boyfriend in front of Ha-ri's friends."

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Substituted Blind Date

Tae-moo faces pressure from Da-goo to attend blind dates, while Young-seo persuades Ha-ri to impersonate her. The deception unexpectedly connects Ha-ri to Tae-moo.

Rules of Fake Dating

Tae-moo selects Ha-ri to play his girlfriend, and she studies his background to sustain the arrangement. Young-seo also begins pushing back against her family's control.

Feelings Break Through

Tae-moo's retaliation softens after Ha-ri's drunken apology, and he tries to confess during a seaside trip. His public performance as Ha-ri's boyfriend makes their feelings harder to dismiss.

Secrets Under Pressure

Ha-ri rejects the meaning of their kiss, but her anxiety reveals growing feelings. Yoo-jung's attraction to Sung-hoon and the couple's workplace secrecy create parallel romantic complications.

Commitment Despite Ultimatums

Da-goo discovers the truth about Tae-moo's love life and gives Ha-ri an ultimatum. Ha-ri tries to win him over at the hospital, while Tae-moo asks her to accompany him to the United States and the couple moves toward marriage.