Business Proposal Office rom-coms are perfect for Korean learners: clear settings, repeated business vocabulary, and emotional lines that still sound natural. Business Proposal (사내 맞선) delivers all three—plus comedy that makes phrases easy to remember.
This post gives you a spoiler-light plot overview, 7 useful phrases you can practice today, one politeness tip, and links to practice more on Ready Korean.
Short plot (minimal spoilers)
Business Proposal is a 2022 SBS rom-com starring Kim Se-jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop. Shin Ha-ri skips a blind date by pretending her friend is her boyfriend—only to discover the date is her company’s CEO, Kang Tae-moo. To protect her job and hide the lie, she agrees to a fake relationship at work.
What follows is classic office comedy: meetings, meals with executives, family pressure, and feelings that grow despite the “contract.” For learners, it is full of polite workplace speech, requests, and soft romantic lines.
Want the poster, cast list, and which Ready Korean lessons connect to this drama? Open the drama page here:
→ Business Proposal on Ready Korean Dramas
7 useful phrases from drama-watching Korean
These phrases fit Business Proposal-style office and dating scenes—and real Korean work life.
1. 잠시만요. (jamsimanyo.) — One moment. / Excuse me (wait).
- Hangul: 잠시만요.
- Romanization: jamsimanyo.
- English: Just a moment. / Excuse me, hold on.
Used when you need to stop someone briefly—before a meeting, call, or awkward conversation.
2. 네, 알겠습니다. (ne, algetseumnida.) — Yes, understood.
- Hangul: 네, 알겠습니다.
- Romanization: ne, algetseumnida.
- English: Yes, I understand. / Yes, got it. (formal polite)
A safe reply in the office when your boss or a client gives instructions.
3. 말씀해 주세요. (malsseumhae juseyo.) — Please tell me. / Go ahead.
- Hangul: 말씀해 주세요.
- Romanization: malsseumhae juseyo.
- English: Please tell me. / Please go ahead and speak.
Respectful way to invite someone to explain something—very common in business Korean.
4. 도와드릴까요? (dowadeurilkkayo?) — Shall I help you?
- Hangul: 도와드릴까요?
- Romanization: dowadeurilkkayo?
- English: Shall I help you? / Can I assist you?
Polite offer of help—at work, in a shop, or when someone looks stuck.
5. 그건 안 됩니다. (geugeon an doemnida.) — That’s not possible. / That won’t work.
- Hangul: 그건 안 됩니다.
- Romanization: geugeon an doemnida.
- English: That’s not possible. / We can’t do that.
Firm but polite refusal—useful in office negotiations and everyday boundaries.
6. 같이 가요. (gachi gayo.) — Let’s go together.
- Hangul: 같이 가요.
- Romanization: gachi gayo.
- English: Let’s go together.
Simple, natural invitation—lunch, a meeting room, or leaving the office.
7. 오늘도 수고하셨습니다. (oneuldo sugohasyeotseumnida.) — Thank you for your work today.
- Hangul: 오늘도 수고하셨습니다.
- Romanization: oneuldo sugohasyeotseumnida.
- English: Thank you for your hard work today.
End-of-day line heard constantly in Korean offices and dramas.
Pronunciation / politeness tip
Office Korean often mixes formal polite (-습니다 / -ㅂ니다) with softer -요 endings depending on rank and closeness.
In Business Proposal, characters frequently use polite speech with executives and clients. As a learner, default to:
- 알겠습니다 (understood)
- 말씀해 주세요 (please tell me)
- 수고하셨습니다 (thank you for your work)
These sound professional without being overly casual.
Sound tip: 말씀 (malsseum) is “speech/words” in honorific form. Say mal-sseum, not mal-seum—the double ㅅ matters for natural rhythm.
Practice next on Ready Korean
- Browse the drama — plot, cast, and related lessons:https://readykorean.com/dramas/
- Open Lessons — office and daily-life sentence patterns:https://readykorean.com/
- Learn Hangul if the script still feels hard to read:https://readykorean.com/learn-hangul/
Watch one office scene, pause, and say 네, 알겠습니다 or 잠시만요 out loud.
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