From chaebol to secret agent: Virtual roster of 'Boyfriend on Demand'

A scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

Since its release on March 6, Netflix’s "Boyfriend on Demand," starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, has captured both local curiosity and global buzz.

Beyond its star power and glossy production, the show taps into a distinctly modern fantasy — the comfort of love without the risk of heartbreak.

At the heart of the story is Seo Mi-rae, a webtoon producer worn down by deadlines, a difficult author she manages and the emotional residue of a breakup. Her ex-boyfriend is about to marry someone else. Out of loneliness, exhaustion and a flicker of curiosity, she turns to a virtual reality subscription service promising up to 900 kinds of love.

With a simple headset and the push of a button, Mi-rae can meet boyfriends who fulfill every imaginable romantic ideal — from a devoted CEO to a sentimental artist — all without the messy unpredictability of real life.

A scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

Fans adore its straightforward bliss. "I miss K-dramas just for fun — no murders, just love and butterflies," one Reddit user raved. Others nod to its real-world edge: "It nails the fear of relationships ending," while another mused, "Perfect fantasy dates are fun, but real love's ups and downs hook us."

As Mi-rae dives into this rejection-proof world, "Boyfriend on Demand" flips rom-com cliches into smart escapism. An all-star cast — including Lee Soo-hyuk, Seo Kang-jun, Ong Seong-wu, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Young-dae, Jay Park and more — brings K-drama masculinity to life with playful knowing winks. The tropes may be familiar, but they hit with irresistible thrill, embracing the guilty pleasure of flawless romance that's too satisfying to resist.

Lee Soo-hyuk, left, and Jisoo in a scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

Handsome but cliche conglomerate heir

Model and actor Lee Soo-hyuk plays a hotel executive lifted straight out of a webtoon — the quintessential figure of a romantic fantasy. With his pale skin and chiseled abs, he exudes that oddly alluring charm of someone who’s both a little too smooth and undeniably sexy.

Gazing intensely at Mi-rae, he utters lines like, “It’s here. The face I’ve been longing for and desperately searching for in my dreams every night,” or, with practiced arrogance, “Don’t come in starting tomorrow. I don’t date company employees.”

It's not just the effortless delivery of cheesy lines. From buying her clothes at the department store’s luxury hall to flying a private jet and hosting dates on his personal yacht, he embodies the man who can give you everything you want.

Seo Kang-jun, left, and Jisoo in a scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

First-love campus heartthrob

Seo Kang-jun plays the quintessential "first love senior" — the campus heartthrob every college girl pines for, with striking looks, a soft warmth and an aloof edge that softens into genuine care. His radiant smiles, intense gazes and low soothing voice turn everyday moments into pure romance, especially under drifting cherry blossoms.

Mi-rae falls hard. She joins the "kumdo" (Korean martial art) club just to see him, steals glances in the library and runs through the rain under her jacket, recapturing the innocent thrill of first love. He reappears later in the drama as a young CEO who founded an architecture firm with his friends.

Ong Seong-wu, left, and Jisoo in a scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

NIS agent's heroic protector fantasy

Ong Seong-wu storms in as a sleek secret National Intelligence Service agent, the ultimate rescuer who swoops into a hijacked plane gripped by terrorists.

Amid pulse-pounding action, he risks it all with pinpoint marksmanship to save Mi-rae, the terrified flight attendant-turned-hostage. Dressed in a sharp suit, he pairs fearless heroics with tender reassurance, calming her down with gentle words that leave viewers swooning.

Lee Jae-wook, right, in a scene from Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

Prickly yet irresistible ER resident

Lee Jae-wook ignites the screen as the prickly yet irresistibly romantic emergency room resident senior, his white coat barely containing a storm of cool intensity.

When intern Mi-rae falters over a crashing patient during training, he snaps, "Get a grip, will you?" and shoves her aside to save the day with steady hands. But later, alone in a shadowed hospital corner, he pins her against the wall, voice dropping to a husky whisper: "When will you give me the answer? Are you trying to keep me hanging?" His raw longing turns tension into pure, heart-stopping fire.

Jay Park, right, and Jisoo in a scene from the Netflix rom-com "Boyfriend on Demand" / Courtesy of Netflix

Rounding out fantasy roster

Singer-songwriter, dancer and entrepreneur Jay Park lights up the screen, slipping seamlessly into Mi-rae's virtual boyfriend roster. The former 2PM leader, now a hip-hop and R&B powerhouse, draws her into his world at a party, emerging from the crowd to take her hand for a dance. Leaning close, he whispers, "You look pretty tonight," turning a simple moment electric.

Other virtual boyfriends include Lee Sang-yi as the rugged firefighter whose gaze burns through her, murmuring, "I've put out every other fire, but the one raging in my heart I couldn't." Kim Young-dae plays Mi-rae's sworn enemy in a 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty setting — a masked intruder whose cover falls, setting off an epic, star-crossed romance the moment their eyes meet. Lee Hyun-wook arrives as the sharp, sexy judge.

Together, the lineup forms a catalogue — a self-aware inventory of everything K-drama romances have ever promised.