Kim Se-jeong relished Netflix K-drama Business Proposal role because, as a romantic comedy, it extended her acting range

Singer-actress took the role of Shin Ha-ri in Business Proposal, a Korean drama series on Netflix, because she ‘felt the need to take a challenge’

She fills in for a friend on a blind date where the man turns out to be her boss, played by Ahn Hyo-seop. They improvised many of the romance scenes, she says

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Kim Se-jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop in a scene from Business Proposal. Her role in the Korean drama series shown on Netflix extended her range, she says. Photo: Netflix

Published: 6:15pm, 16 Apr 2022

By Lee Gyu-lee

Singer-actress Kim Se-jeong, who rose to stardom as a member of K-pop girl group I. O. I after competing in Korean broadcaster Mnet’s hit audition show Produce 101, took her first step into romantic comedy with her role in the recent series Business Proposal.

“My emotions toward the series’ wrapping up is ‘relief’. We went through a lot, from the pre-production to its production … with the coronavirus and such,” she says. “Going through plenty of issues, we finally came to an end on a pleasant note.”

Based on popular webcomic The Office Blind Date, the romcom series follows a woman named Shin Ha-ri (Kim) who goes on a blind date on behalf of her best friend and meets her CEO, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop). Faced with the unexpected encounter, she juggles the dates with her boss while trying to hide the fact that she works for him in order to keep her job.

Kim Se-Jeong (second from left) with fellow members of K-pop girl group I. O. I attend a music awards show in Seoul, South Korea, in 2017. Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images

The 12-part series produced by Korean broadcaster SBS garnered popularity on Netflix, topping the platform’s top-10 weekly charts for non-English TV shows for three consecutive weeks.