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Using the pretense of stars being in love with each other is one of the oldest marketing tricks in the entertainment world to generate excitement for their work. The Korean drama “Bump Up Business,” based on the webtoon of the same name, relies on this very concept as the core premise of its story-line.
Directed by Lee Chang Han, the eight-episode series “Bump Up Business” stars members of the K-pop band “OnlyOneOf”, and the story follows the adventures of the newly-formed K-pop duo ‘Lion Heart.’ Their company introduces a marketing strategy labeled “business gay performance,” requiring them to feign a romantic connection for public appearances. While Kang Eden (Lee Yongsoo) grapples with discomfort over the concept, he agrees to the strategy as getting to debut is a rare opportunity. In contrast, JiHoon (Wookjin Jung), the other member, views this as a second shot at stardom and embraces the idea of feigning a romantic connection with his colleague. As the two pretend to be close for cameras, will a real romance brew between the performers?
The episodes are only 15-16 minutes long, making “Bump Up Business” an easy bingeable watch that viewers can finish in one go. Lee Yongsoo beautifully fits the part of Kang Eden, the younger rookie idol, who gets intimidated with the fact that he has to debut with an already established artist. He endearingly captures the soft, vulnerable shades of his character, while Wookjin Jung too pulls off the part of the older, arrogant, sexy JiHoon. However, the short length of the series also limits the characters’ room for development, and the writers resort to clichéd and contrived tropes to introduce plot twists. For example, a character from Kang’s past pops out of nowhere and inexplicably strikes a deal with the company’s CEO to get closer to Kang.
While it’s pretty evident that this show was made on a limited budget, some story tweaks could’ve made it a lot more entertaining as a romantic drama with k-pop showbiz business as its core themes. Lee Yongsoo and Wookjin Jung look incredibly good as the lead couple, but the show moves too fast to establish palpable chemistry between them. For K-pop idols who are acting for the first time, they do a commendable job. Overall, “Bump Up Business” is a decent one-time watch for those looking for a simple quick romantic series.
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