Bump Up Business poster
#12080 This Week

Bump Up Business

Bump Up Business  ·  2023, South Korea
6.4
4,354 ratings
8
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2023

The story revolves around fifth-year trainee and soon-to-debut idol Eden and JiHoon, a celebrity from the same agency, and the love story between these two who are not good at expressing what they truly feel. (Source:…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

In the high-stakes world of K-pop, where every gesture is calculated for mass consumption, 'Bump Up Business' dares to ask: what happens when a manufactured romance becomes real? Fifth-year trainee Kang Eden (Mill) finally gets his big break when he's paired with seasoned idol Gong Jihoon (Nine) to debut as the duo 'Lion Heart'. Their agency’s bold marketing concept? A 'Business Gay Performance' – a staged same-sex love story designed to hook fans. Eden, innocent and earnest, is initially uncomfortable with the pretense, while Jihoon, haunted by a past scandal, is guarded but compliant. As they navigate grueling rehearsals, fan events, and the relentless pressure of the industry, the line between performance and genuine feeling begins to blur. Behind the glitz, secrets emerge, from jealous rivals to dark pasts, testing their bond. More than a simple romance, this series is a sharp, heartfelt look at the commodification of queer love in pop culture, the terror of real vulnerability, and the courage it takes to turn a staged duet into a love song of your own. Perfect for fans who crave meta commentary with their slow-burn sweetness.

Nine photo
Nine
Cast
Mill photo
Mill
Cast
Yoo Jung photo
Yoo Jung
Cast
KB photo
KB
Cast
Junji photo
Junji
Cast
Rie photo
Rie
Cast
MU
Music
Cast
E01
1
Bump Up Business Episode 1
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E02
2
Bump Up Business Episode 2
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E03
3
Bump Up Business Episode 3
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E04
4
Bump Up Business Episode 4
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E05
5
Bump Up Business Episode 5
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E06
6
Bump Up Business Episode 6
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E07
7
Bump Up Business Episode 7
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
E08
8
Bump Up Business Episode 8
Season 1 · Oct 20, 2023
~ min
6.4
out of 10
10
622
9
622
8
467
7
1089
6
933
OL
onlyoneof_lyOn
July 2024
8/10
I came for OnlyOneOf and stayed for the surprising sweetness between Nine and Mill! Their chemistry in the softer moments is adorable—the hand-holding, the shy smiles, the way Eden looks at Jihoon. Sure, the pacing is a mess, but as a shipper, I got exactly what I wanted: two pretty idols falling for each other against a backdrop of glitter and drama. I just wish we got one real kiss! Still, I've rewatched it three times already.
PL
plotHoleHunter
March 2024
4/10
The concept is genius—a BL that critiques BL fanservice—but the execution is a disaster. The editing is choppy, the 15-minute episodes leave zero room for character development, and the main leads' love story feels incredibly rushed. We're told they fall in love but never shown a convincing reason. The villain Hyunbin is cartoonishly evil with no motivation. A textbook case of wasted potential.
WR
webtoon_reader_101
November 2024
6/10
As someone who read the webtoon first, I was relieved they removed Eden's homophobic arc—that was the right call. But the drama omits so much backstory for Jihoon and Hyunbin that the emotional stakes feel hollow. The webtoon had time to breathe; here, everything is compressed into flashbacks. It's a decent adaptation if you view it as a highlight reel, but new viewers will be confused by the rushed ending.
QC
queer_critic
January 2025
6/10
I appreciate that the drama tries to expose the hypocrisy of 'business gay' concepts in K-pop, but it ends up replicating the very problem it critiques. Using OnlyOneOf (a group that profits from queer aesthetics) to star in this story feels like a meta-circle that never lands a punch. The assault scenes are handled poorly—more sensational than thoughtful. Still, it sparked important conversations among my friends, so it's not without value.
MI
music_in_my_veins
September 2024
7/10
The OST carried this show for me! Nine and Mill's voices blend beautifully on the theme song, and the use of OnlyOneOf's existing tracks like 'libidO' actually fit the narrative's tension well. That said, the score is underused—they rely too much on pre-existing songs rather than a original background score. Still, I've added three songs to my playlist. Worth a watch for the music alone.