Business Proposal - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is purely pragmatic: to stop his grandfather from setting him up on endless blind dates so he can focus on work. This shifts as he becomes genuinely intrigued and then falls in love with Ha-ri (in both her personas). His motivation then becomes winning her affection and protecting her from the fallout of their complicated situation, even if it means going against his grandfather's wishes.

Kang Tae-moo begins as a quintessential workaholic CEO: brilliant, handsome, and emotionally detached due to past trauma. His world is orderly and entirely focused on business. His decision to marry his blind date is a business transaction to get his grandfather to stop meddling. Through his fake relationship with Ha-ri, he is forced to engage with emotions and chaos he normally avoids. He evolves from a man who wants to control everything to someone who learns to embrace spontaneity and vulnerability. His love for Ha-ri helps him confront his trauma related to rain and his parents' death, allowing him to become a more empathetic and complete person who prioritizes love over work.

Her initial motivation is purely financial; she needs the money her friend offers to solve a family problem. This evolves into a desperate need to protect her job and identity once she realizes who Tae-moo is. As she develops feelings for him, her motivation transforms into a genuine desire to be with him, while grappling with the fear and insecurity caused by their different social statuses and the lies that started their relationship.

Shin Ha-ri starts as a bright, slightly clumsy, and financially struggling food researcher with a long-unrequited crush on her friend. She is loyal and resourceful, but also cautious and often puts others' needs before her own. By taking on the persona of "Shin Geum-hui," she taps into a bolder, more assertive side of herself. Her journey is about integrating these two sides of her personality. As she falls for Tae-moo, she grows in confidence, learning to stand up for herself and her feelings, not just to her boss but also to his powerful grandfather. She moves from being a passive participant in her own life to an active agent who chooses her own happiness.

His primary motivation is to support and protect Kang Tae-moo, whom he considers family. He keeps Tae-moo grounded and acts as his moral compass. When he falls for Young-seo, a new motivation emerges: to build a life with her on their own terms, independent of their powerful families' influence and expectations.

Cha Sung-hoon is introduced as the perfect, loyal, and stoic secretary to Tae-moo. Having grown up in an orphanage sponsored by Tae-moo's family, he feels a deep sense of loyalty and brotherhood. He is principled and initially draws a firm line with Jin Young-seo because of her deceit. His arc is about learning to step out from Tae-moo's shadow and pursue his own happiness. His relationship with Young-seo allows him to open up emotionally, break his own rigid rules, and stand up to external pressures, such as her disapproving father. He learns that his personal happiness is as important as his loyalty.

Her main motivation is to live a life of her own choosing and marry for love, not for business. She is determined to escape her father's influence. After meeting Sung-hoon, her motivation is to win his heart and build a genuine relationship based on mutual affection, free from the constraints of their family backgrounds.

Jin Young-seo is a charismatic and straightforward chaebol daughter who despises the idea of arranged marriages and wants to find true love. She is fiercely independent, which is why she asks Ha-ri to take her place on the blind date. Her arc centers on achieving true independence from her controlling father. She falls for Sung-hoon at first sight and actively pursues him. Her journey involves leaving her father's company to start her own business, proving that she can succeed on her own merits. She moves from rebelling against her father's control to building a life for herself where she is in control.