What A Boss Wants is MBN’s upcoming romance drama adapted from the popular web novel of the same name. The series stars Sung Hoon as a cold, AI-like chaebol CEO and Oh Se Young as a struggling job seeker who secretly sings in an indie band. The drama is set to premiere on November 11, 2026, at 10:20 PM KST on MBN, with a confirmed run of 12 episodes. Here is everything you need to know about the release schedule, full cast, where you have seen these actors before, and what to expect from the story.
Key Facts
- Premiere Date: November 11, 2026
- Broadcast Network: MBN (South Korea)
- Episode Count: 12
- Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes per episode
- Air Schedule: Likely two episodes per week (Wed-Thu slot)
- International Streaming: Expected on Viki and possibly other platforms
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
- Source Material: Web novel What a Boss Wants (보스의 노골적 취향) by Sikeukeu
Also Read: Sung Hoon and Oh Se Young Spark Instant Chemistry at What a Boss Wants Script Reading
When Does What A Boss Wants Premiere and How Many Episodes?
The drama premieres on November 11, 2026, airing on MBN at 10:20 PM KST. The series consists of 12 episodes, each running approximately 60 minutes. Based on MBN’s typical broadcast pattern for Wednesday-Thursday dramas, the show will likely air two episodes per week, placing the finale around early December 2026. An exact episode-by-episode schedule has not been released yet, but the network is expected to confirm the full calendar closer to the premiere date.
Where to Watch What A Boss Wants: Streaming and Global Availability
Domestic viewers in South Korea can watch What A Boss Wants on MBN when it airs. For international audiences, Viki is the most probable streaming platform, as MBN dramas frequently arrive on the service shortly after their Korean broadcast. The drama is not currently listed on Netflix in the UK or other major regions, according to streaming availability trackers. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India should monitor Viki and regional platforms like KOCOWA for official subtitled episodes. No confirmed global streaming deal has been announced yet.
What A Boss Wants Full Cast and Characters
The main cast brings together a mix of veteran rom-com leads and rising talents. Here are the principal actors and the characters they play.
Sung Hoon as Kwon Do Hyuk — The male lead. Kwon Do Hyuk is the only son of a top 1 percent chaebol family. He is the CEO of Oyes Entertainment, a genius in the field of AI, and a man who trusts data more than people. He has zero sense of taste, prefers only classical music, and dislikes any music with vocals. He suffers from PTSD and insomnia. His life changes when he hears a mysterious woman’s voice on an indie album.
Oh Se Young as Lee Eun Chae — The female lead. Lee Eun Chae is a job seeker struggling through a tough employment market by day and the vocalist “Soo” of an indie band by night. She is bubbly, lovable, honest about her emotions, and refuses to be discouraged despite repeated rejections. She conceals her true identity when she becomes entangled with Kwon Do Hyuk.
Lee Jung Shin as Moon Tae Kyung — A pediatrician who has everything from looks and personality to a privileged family background. He is warm, easygoing, and well-liked by everyone.
Supporting Cast — Park Jung Hak, Jo Hee Bong, Lee Do Yeop, Kim Yun Kyung, and Lee Choong Joo round out the main ensemble. These veteran actors each bring distinct personalities to their roles, adding depth to the drama’s workplace and family dynamics.
Where You’ve Seen the What A Boss Wants Cast Before
Sung Hoon is a familiar face in romantic comedies. He debuted in 2011 with New Tales of Gisaeng and gained wide recognition through My Secret Romance (2017), where he played Cha Jin-wook. Other notable credits include Oh My Venus (2015), Five Enough (2016), Woori the Virgin (2022), and Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023), where he starred as Seo Do Guk. He also made a special appearance in Death’s Game (2023). What A Boss Wants marks his return to television after a brief hiatus.
Oh Se Young has steadily built her career through diverse roles. She debuted in The Beauty Inside (2018) and appeared in VIP (2019), Alice (2020), Thirty-Nine (2022), and Blind (2022). Her breakout lead role came in The Judge Returns, which earned strong viewership. She also appeared in Lovely Runner (2024) and The Third Marriage (2023-2024). What A Boss Wants is her second major lead role.
Lee Jung Shin is a member of the band CNBLUE and has been acting since 2012. His drama credits include Seoyoung, My Daughter (2012), The Blade and Petal (2013), Temptation (2014), Cinderella and the Four Knights (2016), My Sassy Girl (2017), Longing Heart (2017), and The Resurrection of the Seven (2024). He plays a pediatrician in What A Boss Wants, a warm contrast to his previous action-oriented roles.
What Is the Plot of What A Boss Wants?
The story follows Kwon Do Hyuk, a chaebol boss who has everything—wealth, looks, and genius-level intelligence—but lives a cold, emotionless life. Haunted by PTSD and crippling insomnia, he seeks help from a psychiatrist who gives him an unusual prescription: find the woman whose voice can calm his nerves. When an indie band’s album lands on his desk, Do Hyuk hears a voice that feels instantly familiar. He sets out to find the mysterious singer, only to discover that his womanizing father has also set his sights on her.
The woman is Lee Eun Chae, a job seeker by day and indie band vocalist by night. She becomes the only variable in Do Hyuk’s otherwise perfect, data-driven life. As they clash and become entangled, Eun Chae secretly conceals her true identity, leading to an unpredictable romance that awakens feelings Do Hyuk never knew he had.
The drama is adapted from the web novel What a Boss Wants (보스의 노골적 취향) written by Sikeukeu. The webtoon adaptation, illustrated by Ban Ji-Eun and adapted by Team Cotton Candy, is available on Naver Webtoon. The series is directed by Kang Sol and written by Nam Ji Yeon.
Production Updates and Script Reading
The production team held its first script reading with the full cast in September 2026. The session brought together director Kang Sol, writer Nam Ji Yeon, and the main cast. Reports from the reading noted that Sung Hoon and Oh Se Young showed strong chemistry through their witty back-and-forth, while Lee Jung Shin added warmth to the room with his gentle manner. The production team described Sung Hoon as naturally expressing Kwon Do Hyuk’s confidence, charisma, and hidden wounds, and praised Oh Se Young for her rich emotional expressions that bring Lee Eun Chae’s bubbly and quirky personality to life.
What Makes What A Boss Wants Different From Other Office Romances
The drama’s central hook is the contrast between its leads. Kwon Do Hyuk is described as “more AI-like than AI itself”—a man who relies on data, logic, and rigid standards, and who cannot stand music with vocals. Lee Eun Chae is his complete opposite: a bright, unpredictable job seeker who sings in an indie band and refuses to give up despite constant setbacks. Their clash is not just romantic but philosophical, as Do Hyuk’s cold rationalism meets Eun Chae’s messy, emotional humanity. The added layer of a father-son rivalry over the same woman introduces a family conflict that raises the stakes beyond a standard workplace romance.
The drama also incorporates PTSD and insomnia as real character struggles, giving Kwon Do Hyuk a vulnerability beneath his icy exterior. His search for the voice that can calm him is not just a romantic device but a personal need, which adds emotional weight to the central relationship.
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What A Boss Wants Episode Schedule and Release Timeline
Episode 1 premieres November 11, 2026 on MBN. If the show follows the standard Wednesday-Thursday broadcast pattern, the schedule will likely look like this:
- Week 1: Episodes 1-2 (Nov 11-12)
- Week 2: Episodes 3-4 (Nov 18-19)
- Week 3: Episodes 5-6 (Nov 25-26)
- Week 4: Episodes 7-8 (Dec 2-3)
- Week 5: Episodes 9-10 (Dec 9-10)
- Week 6: Episodes 11-12 (Dec 16-17)
This schedule is estimated based on MBN’s typical programming pattern and has not been officially confirmed. The network is expected to release the full broadcast calendar closer to the premiere date.
What We Know About International Streaming and Subtitles
International fans should watch for Viki to carry the drama, as MBN series frequently arrive on the platform with English and other language subtitles. KOCOWA is another possible destination for viewers in the Americas. As of now, no Netflix release has been announced for any region. Streaming availability in India, Southeast Asia, and Europe will depend on regional licensing deals that are typically confirmed closer to the premiere. Fans in the UK and Australia should check Viki and regional K-drama platforms in the weeks leading up to November 11.
Also Read: Sung Hoon’s Hot Underwater Kiss Scenes Wow Fans, But Exes Claim He’s a Bad Kisser in Real Life
VvipTimes will keep you updated as MBN confirms the full episode schedule and streaming partners for What A Boss Wants.
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