The new Netflix Korean romantic comedy, Boyfriend on Demand, blends a little fantasy escape with workplace romance. It follows a burned-out webtoon producer who navigates romance in both the virtual and real worlds.
The new romantic comedy, out on Netflix on March 6th, follows Jisoo as Mi-rae, a burned-out webtoon producer who joins a virtual dating service that provides a customized romantic experience with her perfect boyfriend.
The title itself refers to a virtual dating service that offers dream dates ranging from fairy tales to fantasy adventures.
The romantic comedy, set in a typical office, explores the contrast between fantasy and reality, with humor and heartwarming moments highlighting the chaos of modern-day dating.
The new poster and first trailer for Boyfriend on Demand show Mi-rae signing up for the virtual dating service for the first time, with a dating manager, played by Yoo In-na, guiding her through the experience. She immediately gets immersed in a whirlwind of romantic experiences, from a fairy tale prince, her first crush from school, a confident doctor, a secret agent, and a celebrity, all of which bring her into a whirlwind of romance and a whole range of possibilities.
Outside the simulated world, however, Mi-rae continues to run into Kyeong-nam, played by Seo In-guk, and a budding relationship between them begins to form as “overtime work buddies.”
The slow-burning romance provides grounding to balance out Mi-rae’s simulated-world experiences and prompts her to rethink what constitutes a perfect couple.
The director of Boyfriend on Demand, Kim Jung-sik, says the series provides a wide variety of romance within a single narrative.
“One of the most appealing points of ‘Boyfriend on Demand’ is that the main character experiences different romantic relationships with various individuals, in diverse settings and universes, all within a single series,” Kim says. “As such, viewers can enjoy a wide spectrum of romantic comedies.”
The director says he also aimed to highlight Jisoo’s acting abilities in the simulated-world scenes by casting her in several different roles and subtly changing her character to distinguish between reality and simulation.
The series features several special guest roles from popular actors, including Seo Kang Jun, Lee Soo Hyuk, Ong Seong Wu, Lee Jae Wook, Lee Hyun Woo, Jay Park, Kim Young Dae, and Lee Sang Yi, each playing a different virtual-world love interest. The roles of Ha Young and Yoo In Na also add to the fun.
Boyfriend on Demand will premiere on March 6th, exclusively on Netflix.
