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-10 for unnecessary scenes that thankfully I could easily skip...-10 for the psycho ex..........
-5 for the stalker that yeah I wasn’t focusing but idk what he wanted...
-1 for the “marriage company” which actually had no real reason to exist
-1 for some age stuff
+10 for seo hyun jin
+2 for age appropriateness tho same aged was sketchy
+5 for cinematography
Overall it’d have been enough as a healing drama, even the mystery would’ve worked better if it had actual reason
Something like the movie of SYJ and KJW, Another way, two broken lost souls and thus, this should’ve been even shorter
Ml going through an abusive dad and a controlling wife that drugged him was enough
Like she could’ve just died, and he’d live mourning her and realize later how bad she was
Fl’s one ruined relationship was enough, the whole arranged marriage company was ridiculous like that PMY drama
The trunk, it had nothing in? Why was the stalker so stalkery
Atleast make it like little women and make it about a lot of money
And the ex literally sees him since childhood struggling and thinks Ill do that too
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Sleek, beautiful, noir. Loved it.
This drama is not going to suit everyone's taste. But for a nordic sucker for a noir atmosphere and grown up, complex and flawed characters this was a total dreamboat and a bag of chips.No work is flawless, its just a question if it matters to me or not. In this case I did not give one f***k and enjoyed every exquisite minute of gorgeous cinematography, intrigue and deliciously dysfunctional everything.
The 8 episode format is perfect so at no point did I feel frustrated with a banal side plot or unnecessary complications or pointless montages/scenes.
The OST was to me tasteful and understated, but very powerful and gave me goosebumps every now and then. Nothing unnecessary, just perfect and the power of silence has it's own life in this sound world.
I could feel that this is based on a book, theres a literary and disciplined feel in the visual language. I was overall pleasantly surprised and satisfied that this did not slip into cliché. As much as I love a good cliché it would have subtracted from this lovely gem.
Thank you Trunk!
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Even those who commit the most despicable acts are worthy of love.
When I first started watching, I was really confused. I couldn't understand why a wife would force her husband to enter into a contract marriage with someone else just so they could get back together. It seemed convoluted and almost diabolical. As the story unfolded, I realized that it truly was twisted and diabolical. The wife wasn't the only one with issues; many of the characters were emotionally damaged or traumatized, suffering lasting negative effects. And I think this is what humanized them and drew me in to the story.One key takeaway from this drama is that a broken person can easily break you. However, it also highlighted the importance of genuine human connection and empathy—like a kind word, a comforting hug, or simply being present for someone; these can help heal a broken spirit if not completely change a person's life. But I think the most important message was that even those who commit the most despicable acts are still worthy of love.
Behind every great drama is a talented writer and director, and that is so true in Seo Hyun Jin (my favorite actress of all time), Gong Yoo, Jung Yun H and all the other cast member's great performances. Well done!
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A Slow-Burn Journey Through Healing and Romance
I keep my reviews concise and spoiler-free, focusing on the key points. I also watch every episode without fast-forwarding to provide a fair perspective.This drama is a slow-burn experience, deeply atmospheric and intentionally paced, which may not appeal to everyone. Its genre leans heavily on mood and introspection rather than fast-paced thrills.
The visuals and OST are excellent, with the soundtrack predominantly instrumental, perfectly complementing the drama’s somber tone. The darker, muted visual style enhances the story's weight, even in daylight scenes. Despite its slow pace, the show is packed with hints, questions, and layers of trauma and conflict that immediately draw you in if you're willing to adjust to the rhythm.
At its heart, the drama is a poignant exploration of depression and healing, focusing on deeply broken characters navigating their way through a toxic environment, self-sabotage, and the possibility of redemption. The darker themes are balanced by sweet, tender moments during the romantic parts, giving the story a sense of hope amidst the gloom.
The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, with their interactions feeling grounded and mature. The romance is handled differently from most dramas, offering a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of relationships. However, the story misses opportunities to delve deeper into certain side characters, who could have added more depth to the narrative.
While some of the story arcs build strong initial intrigue, their resolutions may feel a bit less impactful than anticipated. Similarly, the thriller and investigation elements are underwhelming, failing to deliver the tension or complexity they seem to promise. They could have been either improved or omitted entirely to focus more on the characters' emotional journeys.
The drama’s brevity might leave you wanting more, and its pacing and tone might have worked just as well, if not better, as a film. Nonetheless, it remains a compelling and beautifully crafted story for viewers who appreciate mature, introspective storytelling.
If you’re open to slower-paced dramas with strong visuals and a focus on emotional healing, this one is well worth the watch. Just don’t expect a gripping thriller, it’s more about the journey than the destination.
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This drama features sexual scenes and nudity, which is why I classify it as an adult drama. With the inclusion of sexual content in Queen Woo and now The Trunk, perhaps the K-Drama industry is moving away from a puritanical approach, especially with the emergence of BL and GL genres.
The story centers on a contract marriage, while the mystery of the trunk serves merely as filler.
This is the first time, after finishing the second episode, that I had to rewatch the opening to familiarize myself with the key characters!
I liked the part where the ML asked, "Does the contract include sexual services?" The FL responded, "If both parties are willing."
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Mind that MA rating on Netflix
I'm writing this for those who --like me-- have latched onto kdramas because they enjoy watching a well-crafted story without being subjected to the barrage of smut and morally "progressive" agendas that litter American shows. The Trunk was a suspenseful, interestingly-directed psychological drama with a healing story at its core... and a couple borderline pornographic scenes that were unnecessarily graphic... and yet another sexual minority character portrayed as a victim. I wish the streaming services now dabbling in kdrama productions would let the genre be itself, rather than remaking it in the image of American shows that use sensationalized content to make up for sloppy storytelling.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Had its intriguing moments but it failed to balance between mysterious and confusing
My rating is 7.5/10
I went into The Trunk super excited because some of my favorite reviewers were raving about it, calling it a gripping psychological thriller with a unique contract marriage twist. As someone with a psychology degree, I was pumped for a deep dive into complex characters and mind games, and I do love a good K-drama that mixes romance with suspense. Did it deliver? Sort of, but it wasn't as great as I expected from other reviews.
The acting is amazing of course—Gong Yoo brings this raw, broken energy to a guy who’s a total mess, and Seo Hyun-jin nails the guarded, emotionally scarred vibe of her character. The visuals are stunning, with a cold, moody aesthetic that fits the psychological tone perfectly. The house was "creepy" just in how dark it was and with the unusual architectural features such as the staircase and huge chandelier. The story revolves around a shady marriage agency called NM that sets up one-year contract marriages, and things get intriguing when a mysterious trunk shows up, hinting at dark secrets.
I guess if you’re into slow-burn dramas that unpack trauma, manipulation, and messy relationships, you might like this. But fair warning—it moves slowly. Like, “I need another coffee to stay awake” slow at times. The mystery starts strong but fizzles out toward the end, and the resolution left me feeling meh. As an empath, I found it emotionally draining because every character is so damaged, and there’s no feel-good payoff to lift you up. The romance is there, but it’s not the swoony kind—it’s heavy, complicated, and sometimes frustrating.
I’d recommend The Trunk if you love psychological thrillers and don’t mind a heavy, introspective vibe with flawed characters. But if you’re looking for something light, romantic, or action-packed, you might want to skip this one. It’s not a show I’d rewatch—it was tedious in parts, and I had to push through to finish it. Still, it’s got enough intrigue and stellar performances to make it worth a shot for the right viewer. If you’re torn, maybe watch the first episode and see if the vibe hooks you. There are tons of other K-dramas out there, so it depends on whether you’re in the mood for something this intense.
Why a relatively low rating of 7.5/10 for me. You will see very few that I review that I rate that low simply because I research the shows I watch up front and try to only watch those that others have liked at least an 8 or above by most reviewers. But, occasionally one like this will slip through and my opnion will depart from my stand by sources. The acting and aesthetics are fantastic, and the premise is intriguing, but the slow pace, unsatisfying ending, and lack of emotional payoff dock some points. It’s good, but not great in my opinion. There is a fine balance between making something mysterious and making it confusing. I felt like that balance was not well maintained and I was confused a lot and some of those confusing points were never resolved.
Spoilers
As a psych grad, I was analyzing everyone’s behavior like crazy, and boy, did this show give me a lot to chew on.
The Ex-Wife’s Toxic Manipulation was a huge flag for a mental disorder. From the beginning, I clocked Lee Seo-yeon as bad news. To me, she screams borderline personality disorder with narcissistic tendencies. Her whole scheme—setting up her ex-husband, Han Jeong-won (Gong Yoo), in a contract marriage with Noh In-ji (Seo Hyun-jin) while she pairs up with a younger guy, Yun Ji-oh (Jo I-geon), supposedly to “test” Jeong-won so they can reunite—is straight-up psychological torture. She knew it would be emotionally painful for him and was getting great enjoyment out of his suffering. She thrives on control and attention, and it’s clear she’s stringing Jeong-won along because she can’t stand him moving on. Her character is chillingly manipulative, and Jung Yun-ha plays her with this unsettling mix of charm and menace.
The reveal about Seo-yeon’s past further consolidated my thought that she was classic personality disorder. The fact that she walked into traffic while eight months pregnant, losing her unborn child, was a desperate bid to keep the spotlight on herself when Jeong-won’s attention shifted to the baby. And she did it when she was supposed to meet him so she had to know he saw the full accident she created. Then she drugged him and installed cameras to spy on him, knowing his trauma would make that unbearable. Those types of actions are next-level cruel. Which was why I was so disappointed when Jeong-won apologized to her at the end—like, what? She murdered their baby and traumatized him, and he’s sorry? That told me he really did not get who she really was at all. Her suicide attempt when she realized he wasn’t coming back was textbook BPD—when control slips, you pull a drastic move to reclaim it. I wanted someone to call her out harder, and while In-ji had some great moments telling her off, it wasn’t enough when Jeon-won's apology pretty much reversed any censure of her behavior she received to that point by apologizing as if he had committed the greater wrongs. Wanted away from someone with BPD is not wrong. He was escaping with the drugs she pushed on him long before he lucked out and she pushed him away.
The Main Couple’s romance was frustrating (Han Jeong-won and Noh In-ji). I was rooting for Jeong-won and In-ji to heal each other, but their story left me conflicted. Gong Yoo’s Jeong-won in the begging of the series, is a drug-addicted, anxiety-riddled mess, haunted by his toxic marriage to Seo-yeon. His stockholm syndrome, where he is begging her to come back to him, is just a factor of the unhealthy co-dependence she had carefully fostered. As someone who was abused in the past, he was fertile ground for another abuser and his ex-wife more than fit that bill. He’s so broken that you can’t help but feel for him, and Gong Yoo’s performance is heartbreaking. In-ji, played by Seo Hyun-jin, is a contract wife at NM who’s supposed to be detached but starts catching feelings. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the slow-burn moments where they start to open up—like In-ji creating a cozy home for Jeong-won—are beautiful. But In-ji’s emotional walls drove me nuts. She’s giving and caring on the surface, but when it comes to truly opening up, she pulls back, which felt selfish to me.
In-ji's backstory was such a letdown. We finally learn her fiancé, Seo Do-ha (Hong Woo-jin), left her five years ago, calling her selfish, but the show never explains why. What did she do that was so bad he vanished without a trace? She clings to his old apartment, which is weirdly obsessive, but the show doesn’t connect the dots. It’s like they wanted her to have this deep, tragic past to justify her contract marriage gig, but it didn’t land. The trauma of being abandoned didn’t seem intense enough to explain her emotional isolation or why she’d choose a job where she stays detached. I kept waiting for a bigger reveal, but it never came, and that vagueness made her arc feel incomplete. And it made her seem selfish, as her ex had accused her of.
Their ending was the biggest disappointment. After all the drama, In-ji ends the marriage, saying it’s for the best, even though they clearly love each other. It hints that she does it to protect him from her stalker but since it doesn't really protect him anyway it is clear she does it for herself. Jeong-won suggests they give it another shot if they meet by chance twice—and the show ends with them having one random encounter. Really? After everything, you’re leaving it to some rom-com “fate” nonsense? It felt like a cop-out, especially since In-ji’s refusal to fully commit seemed rooted in her own insecurities rather than anything logical. I wanted her to be the heroine who saves Jeong-won emotionally, but her own damage held her back, and the fact that the damage didn't stem from something that made sense, made that frustrating.
The side couple just added some pointless drama and slowed the plot down even further (Yun-a and Hyeon-cheol). Jeong-won’s friend and his wife could have been a cute heart warming story of a young couple struggling to raise their kids. But, what was wrong with her? She said several times she didn't want her husband or her kids. Post partum depression? I mean her kids were a little old for that but it is possible. But didn't we have enough mental illness to weed through already? Their subplot about her wanting a divorce because she “doesn’t want kids” and needs her “identity” felt so forced. It came off as this weird, stereotypical “modern woman” trope that didn’t add anything to the main story. Yun-a seemed selfish and disconnected, and their drama felt like filler. I kept wondering why this couple was even in the show—it didn’t tie into the trunk mystery or the main romance and just bogged down the pace.
And speaking of the titular trunk I thought it was going to be some huge deal. I mean it is in the title after all. And they way played it up as being expensive and rate. Gotta be something hugely profound about it right? Nope. It had me hooked at first—who owns it? What’s inside? But the mystery fizzles out. There are two trunks: In-ji’s, with her marriage contract and NM manual, and Seo-yeon’s, with baby clothes and toys for her lost child. A creepy ex-NM employee, Eom Tae-seong (Kim Dong-won), steals Seo-yeon’s trunk thinking it’s In-ji’s, hoping to expose NM and ruin In-ji’s marriage. Lots of suspense around him being able to open it or not and it was associated with the mysterious deceased body in the beginning. But it turns into a big nothing burger. They literally were using it like a mobile safe. That's it. No dead bodies. No huge secreats. Just some baby clothes and some paperwork.
The big twist? The whole thing practically was built on a who dunnit with the trunk, the police taped off scene, the water (and she kayaks) and the viewer spends a lot of the series wondering who the body is and who committed the cirime. Finding out who did it and who the body even was is revealed in quick succession. Tae-seong is killed by Yun Ji-oh, Seo-yeon’s contract husband, who does it because NM asked and because he was the witness to a fellow security guard being murdered by Tae-seong. It’s dramatic but feels rushed and unsatisfying. I mean why him? Our only association with him to that point was just another man who had some weird fixation with BPD woman.
The nonlinear timeline, jumping between the contract marriage’s start, sometimes into the future, sometimes into the past is cool for suspense but made the story drag. I got bored in parts, especially when the show lingered on everyone’s misery without moving the plot forward. And I got lost in the sauce a lot of times, get bored and blink and you missed that you just time traveled.
I didn't hate it. Not even sorry I watched it. At least now I know. Because it is talked about quite a bit in drama circles. The harsh, cold visuals and the music set the mood perfectly, reflecting the characters’ trauma. The acting, especially Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin, carries the show—their chemistry is the heart of it. I loved when In-ji confronted Seo-yeon; those scenes were electric, and someone needed to put that woman in her place. But the weak mystery resolution, vague backstories, and lack of a feel-good ending killed the vibe for me. At the end of the series, I felt drained by how broken everyone was—Jeong-won’s pill-popping, In-ji’s emotional withdrawal, Seo-yeon’s manipulation. Jeong-won did predictably get better when he got away from toxic Seo-yeon and In-ji was definitely instrumental in him having the strength to break her stranglehold on him. But there is no catharsis, no moment where you feel like these people are going to be okay. Better? Some of them were. But okay and ready to move onto happy lives? Is that what the cats and dog were supposed to represent? The tearing down of the house? Well, you appear pretty happy on your own. Lonely? Maybe. But happy. But there is never an "I miss you moment" with In-ji. She goes and sees his show. I guess that was supposed to be an indicator she was missing him. But don't make us guess. We are at the end. Tell us. Let her cold emotional shell finally crack. I was tired of it at that point.
I wouldn’t rewatch it, and I’d only recommend it to folks who enjoy dissecting damaged characters. There are better K-dramas out there if you want something that is tied together a lot better and is still thrilling but ends on a more uplifting and well wrapped up note
Synopsis
The Trunk is a 2024 South Korean drama with 8, 63 minute episodes. It combines elements of mystery, romance, thriller and with psychological aspects. It’s based on a novel by Kim Ryeo-ryeong.
The story follows Noh In-ji (Seo Hyun-jin), who works for a shady company called NM (New Marriage) that sets up one-year contract marriages. Basically, people pay to have a temporary spouse for whatever reason—maybe they need a partner for show, but sometimes the reason is something weirder. In-ji’s latest “husband” is Han Jeong-won (Gong Yoo), a music producer who’s super depressed and stuck on his ex-wife, Lee Seo-yeon (Jung Yun-ha). Their fake marriage gets messy when a creepy trunk shows up in a lake, hinting at some dark secrets tied to NM. As In-ji and Jeong-won play house, they start to actually care about each other, but their pasts and NM’s sketchy business keep things complicated.
This show’s not your usual fluffy K-drama. It’s intense, with a lot of mind games and emotional baggage, digging into stuff like toxic relationships and figuring out what love even means. The first few episodes can be confusing because it doesn’t explain much upfront—like, why is Jeong-won so hung up on his ex? What’s NM really about? But if you hang in there, it starts to come together and gets super addictive. I’m watching it with my daughter, and it’s been a bit much for her because it’s so twisty, but I think it’s worth sticking with for the romance and the mystery. If you like shows that make you think and keep you guessing, give The Trunk a shot. Just know it’s got some heavy themes and a couple of steamy scenes, so maybe not the best for those that like Asian content because it tends to shy away from overtly sexual scenes.
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Cerebral.
Loved it - the ensemble cast, the leads, the music - all terrific. Beautifully filmed. Very rewatchable. The storyline moves around, so needs to be watched carefully.ML/FL are a joy to watch and with great on-screen chemistry. Always superb.
Nothings ever perfect but The Trunk gives it a good nudge.
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psychological drama
This series has decidedly strange and particular Plot. It makes us reflect on how toxic relationships exist and shows the perspective of those who see marriage as a pure employment contract.With slow scenes, nude scenes and many strange situations. Half the time you ask yourself "why"... and you find yourself at high sea.
There is this obsessed control freak woman (no words) who claims to have everyone at her feet and treats them like slaves and pulls strings as if they were puppets.
She will find bread for her teeth with the new bride.
I honestly didn't understand the end. Both sad but divided? With everything they have experienced...
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A Hollow Shell
“The Trunk” is a drama that presents itself as a story about fake marriages, manipulation, control, love, inner trauma, and more — but often remains at the level of superficial conflict and underdeveloped ideas.The characters are the show's biggest weakness. The male lead is a weary man with post-traumatic experiences who never had a healthy model of love and therefore can’t recognize toxicity. His ex-wife controls and belittles him, but lacking his own identity, he continues clinging to the past. Sounds intriguing, but this dynamic never evolves. He doesn't have a breakthrough, doesn’t change — he just passively exists. The female lead, who could have been a turning point — cold, reserved, but deeply wounded — also receives no proper development. Her emotions and tragedies are presented as mere background. We don’t see how these events shape her caution or determination. She essentially remains a secondary character in her own story.
The toxic ex — a vivid image, but one-dimensional. We get no hint of her vulnerability or backstory. She exists just so the viewer can hate her and sympathize with the male lead. It’s convenient, but not honest — and definitely not deep. The same applies to the side characters: the stalker is just a stalker with no logic, the female lead’s husband is merely a shadow of a tragedy, thrown in for drama and left undeveloped. All the supporting characters feel like functions rather than real people — they fulfill roles but have no personal stories that affect the plot.
Narratively, the show hints at many things but completes none. There are sexual scenes but unspoken traumas; a major theme of control that is never properly explored; fake marriages that carry neither emotional nor plot significance. Atmospherically, this could’ve been a tense, deep, dark exploration of human loneliness and the inability to form connections — but instead, it became a half-baked romantic melodrama with psychological ambitions it never dared to pursue.
Conclusion — pretty visuals, interesting concept, strong cast, but the script is a mess. No climax, no transformation, no resolution. The characters don’t grow, conflicts don’t escalate, important themes hang in the air. Everything feels like it’s on the verge of something deeper, but it never becomes more than just a pretty wrapper. The potential was there — for a psychological drama, for a subtle emotional thriller — but instead, we got a collection of ideas with no development.
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Boring ending
Everything was going well until we got to chapter 6, from then on the story started to seem boring to me. The story about the murder and the stalker, I found it very ¿? what are you trying to tell me, how to find out who the murderer is is very boring, the reason why he does it is also boring (personally). Maybe if the story had a stronger motive about the murder it would be much better, but well, the ending was not a big deal and leaves you very much like, I watched 8 chapters for this?I had read bad reviews when I was on the 4th or 5th chapter and I thought they were exaggerating by giving it a bad rating, but no. I was not.
It's ok to pass the time, but you'll probably be disappointed by the ending, or maybe not.
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Slow Paced, Dragged Out
I was really looking forward to this drama as it was Gong Yoo’s comeback drama (save his minimal parts in Squid Game), and I literally didn’t know anyone else in the cast and it seemed like it would be kind of a psychological thriller given the title and the description of the drama.However, I think it’s a little misleading because where they do find this trunk, it took them a long time to get to it and even when they did they like didn’t care about it lol and I think that’s saying something bc they found the trunk and the body and were trying to piece together this crime alongside all of this backstory and lore with the characters, but it was kind of confusing because is it happening in real time are we watching a flashback, idk I just don’t think they did that good of a job differentiating the timelines as well as not making the trunk the focus of this story as the title would have you think.
The drama’s production was outstanding tho, the production quality and the angles that they shot at were so good and the color saturation was very dark and dull-toned which really gave like an indie-feeling to it and not your typical kdrama production.
This drama is VERY slow paced and I have to admit I did doze off quite a few times throughout it. It definitely felt long but I’m so glad it was only 8 episodes because any longer and I probably wouldn’t have finished it lol. There really wasn’t any action which I feel like is what made it seem slower than it was. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it being a contract marriage and why, and I felt very confused for at least half of the drama because there was just so much going on and not enough elaboration really on any of it. Although I do like how you find Jeongwon and Inji slowly open up to each other about their trauma and you can tell that very quickly into their fake marriage that this one was different for Inji.
The psycho ex-wife was a little over the top, every time she came on she pissed me off and I’m like WHAT NOW!? Jeongwon and Inji really had such great chemistry with each other and I honestly liked how they went about with the ending. It’s not your typical love story BY FAR, I love that they were able to open about their trauma, work through it and just learned how to be and live by themselves after getting out such toxic relationships instead of just jumping into the next one. If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be and I loved the idea of if they met by chance at least twice, then it was meant to be and I love how the color of the drama became so bright and fun once they started living their own lives, it was really refreshing compared to the dark and slow ominous feeling of the rest of the drama.
Where this drama has its downsides, it has some equally good upsides. I was a little disappointed but I think the acting really made up for it, I mean have you ever seen a bad Gong Yoo drama? I don’t think I would recommend it, unless you like Gong Yoo lol and I definitely wouldn’t rewatch it. It really had nothing to do with the trunk and everything to do about psychological/verbal abuse which I don’t think is something you normally see in kdramas. Soyeon hiding the cameras in that fucking chandelier just like his father did with his mother was absolutely diabolical. What a psycho.
But overall, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. It would be a good drama to watch if you’re feeling a little lowkey/mellow.
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