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| Best Shows Like What A Boss Wants. |
If What a Boss Wants has left you wanting more workplace romance, complicated relationships, secret identities and unexpected chemistry, there are plenty of Korean dramas worth adding to your watchlist. The 2026 MBN series combines a demanding corporate CEO, an aspiring musician living a double life and an unusual connection built around artificial intelligence, making it an entertaining mix of office comedy, music-industry drama and romance.
Fortunately, several K-dramas explore similar territory, whether through arrogant bosses falling for their employees, celebrities finding love away from the spotlight or ambitious characters trying to balance professional responsibilities with personal dreams. Some even feature enough misunderstandings to make a three-month employment contract look like a perfectly sensible relationship arrangement. Here are 21 shows like What a Boss Wants, featuring similar storylines, romantic dynamics, entertainment-industry settings and character relationships.
Best K-Dramas Like What a Boss Wants
1. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim is probably one of the closest recommendations for anyone who enjoys the boss-and-employee relationship in What a Boss Wants. The story follows Lee Young-joon, a wealthy and extremely self-centred vice-chairman who struggles to understand why his highly capable secretary, Kim Mi-so, suddenly decides to resign after working for him for years.
Determined to keep her around, Young-joon begins making increasingly ridiculous attempts to change her mind. Their professional relationship gradually develops into something more personal as they uncover forgotten memories and unresolved feelings. Like What a Boss Wants, the series combines an emotionally guarded executive, workplace misunderstandings and a romance that develops when two very different personalities spend far too much time together.
2. Business Proposal (2022)
Business Proposal follows Shin Ha-ri, an ordinary office employee who agrees to attend a blind date on behalf of her wealthy friend. Things become complicated when her date turns out to be Kang Tae-moo, the handsome but demanding CEO of the company where she works.
Tae-moo wants to marry quickly, while Ha-ri desperately wants to avoid being recognised. Their increasingly complicated arrangement eventually develops into genuine affection. The similarities with What a Boss Wants are difficult to miss: a wealthy executive, an ordinary female employee, unexpected romantic arrangements and plenty of workplace comedy. Both dramas understand that falling for your boss is considerably easier than explaining the situation to your colleagues.
3. King the Land (2023)
King the Land centres on Gu Won, the privileged heir to a luxury hotel business who finds himself clashing with his cheerful employee, Cheon Sa-rang. Unlike Won, who dislikes artificial smiles and struggles with personal relationships, Sa-rang believes hospitality should come from genuine kindness.
Their contrasting personalities create plenty of amusing moments before their relationship gradually becomes romantic. The series shares What a Boss Wants' interest in the differences between wealthy executives and hardworking employees. Both also explore how professional environments can become unexpected places for personal growth. If the CEO romance is your favourite part of the MBN drama, this one deserves a place on your list.
4. Her Private Life (2019)
Her Private Life follows Sung Deok-mi, a talented art gallery curator who secretly runs a fan website dedicated to her favourite idol. Her carefully separated professional and personal lives become complicated when she meets Ryan Gold, the gallery's new director.
Ryan initially struggles to understand Deok-mi's enthusiasm for celebrity culture, but their relationship develops into something much warmer. Like Eun-chae in What a Boss Wants, Deok-mi has a private passion that does not fit neatly into her professional identity. Both series explore the challenge of keeping different sides of yourself separate while navigating an unexpected romance. It is also a particularly enjoyable choice for viewers interested in the entertainment industry's influence on ordinary working life.
5. The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019)
The Secret Life of My Secretary follows Do Min-ik, a demanding executive who relies heavily on his secretary, Jung Gal-hee. After an unexpected incident affects his ability to recognise people's faces, he becomes increasingly dependent on her.
Gal-hee eventually finds herself pretending to be someone else, creating a complicated situation involving mistaken identities and growing romantic feelings. Its combination of an emotionally distant boss, a capable secretary and an unusual secret makes it an excellent companion to What a Boss Wants. Both dramas also explore the difference between someone's professional appearance and their real personality.
6. My Secret Romance (2017)
My Secret Romance begins with an unexpected encounter between chaebol heir Cha Jin-wook and Lee Yoo-mi, a young woman who meets him during a family wedding. Their brief connection appears to be over until they meet again several years later, when Yoo-mi becomes an employee at his company.
Jin-wook is no longer simply a wealthy stranger. He is now her boss, making their reunion considerably more complicated. The series shares What a Boss Wants' interest in workplace attraction, social differences and relationships that develop under awkward professional circumstances. It is a straightforward romantic comedy for viewers who enjoy watching a confident executive gradually lose control of his carefully organised life.
7. Touch Your Heart (2019)
Touch Your Heart follows Oh Yoon-seo, a famous actress whose career takes an unexpected turn when she accepts a temporary position at a law firm to prepare for an acting role. There, she becomes the secretary of Kwon Jung-rok, a serious and highly organised lawyer.
Their personalities initially clash, but spending time together gradually changes their relationship. The drama has a similar dynamic to What a Boss Wants, particularly through its temporary employment arrangement and the contrast between a reserved professional and a more expressive woman. It also explores the entertainment business from the perspective of someone trying to rebuild her professional reputation.
8. Suspicious Partner (2017)
Suspicious Partner combines romantic comedy with legal drama, following prosecutor Noh Ji-wook and trainee prosecutor Eun Bong-hee. Their relationship begins with an awkward encounter before professional circumstances repeatedly bring them together.
As they work through complicated cases, their feelings become increasingly difficult to ignore. Although the series has a stronger mystery element than What a Boss Wants, it shares the familiar workplace romance formula, emotional misunderstandings and characters who gradually discover unexpected qualities in one another. It is a good choice if you want romance with a little more tension and a storyline that does not rely entirely on office comedy.
9. Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
Romance Is a Bonus Book centres on Kang Dan-i, a divorced mother who struggles to restart her career after spending years away from the workplace. She eventually finds employment at a publishing company, where she reunites professionally with her longtime friend Cha Eun-ho, who is now a successful writer and editor.
Their relationship develops against the backdrop of publishing deadlines, career challenges and complicated personal feelings. Like What a Boss Wants, the drama explores professional ambition, workplace relationships and the importance of pursuing personal goals despite difficult circumstances. Its romantic development is gentler, making it ideal for viewers who prefer emotional storytelling over constant misunderstandings.
10. Start-Up (2020)
Start-Up explores the competitive world of South Korea's technology industry through a group of young entrepreneurs trying to establish successful businesses. Seo Dal-mi dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman, while Nam Do-san is a talented programmer attempting to turn his technical abilities into something bigger.
The story combines business ambitions, complicated family histories and a romantic triangle. Its connection to What a Boss Wants comes through its technology-focused storyline, entrepreneurial setting and exploration of the relationship between artificial intelligence and human ambition. It also features characters who must decide whether professional success is worth sacrificing their personal happiness.
11. Forecasting Love and Weather (2022)
Forecasting Love and Weather follows employees at South Korea's national weather service as they manage professional responsibilities, changing relationships and unpredictable personal circumstances. Jin Ha-kyung is a capable forecaster whose relationship with colleague Lee Si-woo develops after both experience difficult romantic situations.
The drama shares What a Boss Wants' interest in workplace relationships, contrasting personalities and the complications of falling for someone within a professional environment. Rather than focusing on entertainment companies, it uses the meteorological industry as its backdrop. The result is a more grounded romantic drama about people trying to keep their careers and relationships from becoming equally unpredictable.
12. Shooting Stars (2022)
Shooting Stars is one of the strongest recommendations for viewers particularly interested in What a Boss Wants' entertainment-industry setting. The series follows Oh Han-byul, a public relations team leader at an entertainment agency, and Gong Tae-sung, one of the company's biggest stars.
Their professional relationship is complicated by a long history of personal disagreements and an attraction neither seems particularly interested in admitting. The series explores the people working behind the scenes of celebrity culture, including managers, publicity teams and agency employees. Like What a Boss Wants, it combines romantic comedy with the pressures of managing an entertainment business. It also understands that being famous does not automatically make someone easy to work with.
13. Record of Youth (2020)
Record of Youth follows three young people trying to establish themselves in competitive creative industries. Sa Hye-jun is an aspiring actor and model, while Ahn Jeong-ha works as a make-up artist and dreams of building a successful career.
Their relationship develops as they navigate financial difficulties, family expectations and the unpredictable entertainment business. The series shares What a Boss Wants' interest in artistic ambitions and the challenges of balancing professional dreams with personal relationships. It is less focused on the traditional CEO romance formula, but its entertainment-industry setting and exploration of people pursuing creative careers make it a worthwhile addition.
14. So I Married an Anti-Fan (2021)
So I Married an Anti-Fan follows Hoo Joon, a famous K-pop star, and Lee Geun-young, a magazine reporter who becomes involved in a public disagreement with him. Their conflict eventually leads to an unusual reality television arrangement in which they are required to live together.
Naturally, their initial dislike does not last forever. The series develops into a romantic comedy involving celebrity culture, public image and the complications of falling for someone you once considered impossible to tolerate. Like What a Boss Wants, it uses the entertainment industry as a major part of its romantic storyline while exploring the difference between public personalities and private feelings.
15. Love to Hate You (2023)
Love to Hate You follows Yeo Mi-ran, a lawyer who has little interest in traditional romantic expectations, and Nam Kang-ho, a famous actor who struggles to trust women. Their relationship begins with mutual suspicion before circumstances push them closer together.
The series offers a more unconventional take on romantic relationships, with confident characters who are not particularly interested in following familiar rules. Its entertainment-industry connections and contrasting personalities make it a good recommendation for What a Boss Wants viewers. Both dramas also explore how people can develop genuine feelings despite their assumptions about one another.
16. The Producers (2015)
The Producers takes viewers behind the scenes of South Korea's television industry, following the employees responsible for producing variety programmes. The story centres on television producer Baek Seung-chan, experienced producer Tak Ye-jin, and music programme producer Ra Joon-mo, alongside popular singer Cindy.
It explores the complicated working relationships between producers, celebrities and broadcasting staff. Its music-industry connections make it particularly relevant to What a Boss Wants, especially for viewers interested in the professional side of entertainment. The series also features romantic complications and workplace comedy, although its storytelling focuses more heavily on the television production process.
17. Imitation (2021)
Imitation is a natural recommendation for anyone who enjoyed the fictional music industry in What a Boss Wants. The series follows Lee Ma-ha, an aspiring idol who becomes part of the girl group Tea Party, and Kwon Ryok, a successful member of the established boy group Shax.
Their relationship develops in an industry where public image, competition and demanding schedules influence almost every decision. The drama explores the difficult journey of becoming a successful performer while balancing personal relationships and professional expectations. Like What a Boss Wants, it places music, celebrity culture and romance at the centre of its story.
18. The Heavenly Idol (2023)
The Heavenly Idol follows Pontifex Rembrary, a powerful religious figure who unexpectedly finds himself living in the body of an unsuccessful K-pop idol named Woo Yeon-woo. Completely unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, he must learn how to survive as a performer while trying to understand his new circumstances.
The series combines fantasy, music-industry comedy and romantic elements. Its strongest connection to What a Boss Wants is its use of unusual circumstances to explore the relationship between music, identity and public image. Both dramas also feature characters who must navigate an unfamiliar world while discovering what genuinely matters to them.
19. Doona! (2023)
Doona! centres on Lee Doona, a former K-pop idol who has stepped away from the entertainment industry and now lives in a shared student residence. Her quiet new life changes when she meets Lee Won-jun, an ordinary university student who gradually becomes an important part of her world.
The series explores celebrity culture, personal identity and the emotional difficulties of leaving a public career behind. Its connection to What a Boss Wants comes through its music-industry background and the contrast between ordinary life and the pressures associated with fame. However, Doona! offers a more intimate and reflective romantic experience.
20. Lovely Runner (2024)
Lovely Runner follows Im Sol, a devoted fan who unexpectedly travels back in time and gets the opportunity to change the future of her favourite celebrity, Ryu Sun-jae. What begins as an attempt to prevent a tragic outcome develops into a romantic story involving music, memories and second chances.
The series shares What a Boss Wants' connection to the entertainment industry, particularly through its portrayal of a musician whose public career does not reveal everything about his private life. Both also explore the emotional power of music and how an unexpected relationship can transform someone's direction in life. If the musical connection between Do-hyuk and Eun-chae appealed to you, this is an excellent next choice.
21. The Interest of Love (2022)
The Interest of Love follows four employees at a bank whose professional relationships become increasingly complicated by attraction, jealousy and different expectations about love. Ha Sang-su develops feelings for Ahn Su-yeong, but their social backgrounds and personal circumstances make a straightforward relationship difficult.
Unlike the lighter romantic comedy in What a Boss Wants, this series takes a more realistic approach to workplace relationships. Nevertheless, both dramas examine how professional responsibilities, personal ambitions and social differences influence romantic decisions. It is worth watching if you want something more grounded after enjoying the CEO-and-secretary dynamic.
What makes What a Boss Wants such an appealing starting point for this watchlist is its combination of familiar romantic comedy ingredients with a few more unusual ideas. The relationship between a demanding CEO and an employee is hardly new territory for Korean television, but adding a secret indie singer, an AI project and a complicated entertainment business gives the story another dimension. Personally, Shooting Stars, Her Private Life and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim are among the strongest follow-up choices because they capture different parts of what makes the MBN series entertaining.
Shooting Stars delivers the celebrity-industry atmosphere, Her Private Life explores the private passions people keep hidden, and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim offers the boss-and-secretary romance that fans will recognise immediately. Of course, not every recommendation needs to feature a wealthy executive falling in love with an employee. Sometimes a good story simply needs two people making questionable romantic decisions while trying to finish their working day. Which of these 21 Korean dramas would you watch first? Share your favourites and let other K-drama fans know which series deserves a spot on their next watchlist.