Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin’s “The Trunk”, Director Addresses Mixed Reactions “Not a Casual Work”
Director Kim Kyu-tae shared his thoughts on the mixed reactions to “The Trunk” during an interview on December 3 at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Speaking about the feedback, he said, “I’ve seen comments saying it’s polarizing. I find it interesting to see how everyone views it differently.”
Released on November 29, “The Trunk” depicts two people under one-year marriage contract and a mysterious trunk, combining mystery and melodrama. It is based on the novel of the same name by Kim Ryeo-ryeong.
The series follows Noh In-ji (played by Seo Hyun-jin) and Han Jeong-won (played by Gong Yoo), who embark on a somewhat unusual married life as a “contract couple”. The story also delves into the tangled desires of Lee Seo-yeon (played by Jung Yun-ha), who exposes her distorted ambitions through marriage; Yoon Ji-oh (played by Jo Yi-geon), who loves Seo-yeon despite knowing everything; and Eom Tae-seong (played by Kim Dong-won), who reveals abnormal attachment to Noh In-ji. These five characters form a complex web of desires and relationships.
Unlike the original story, “The Trunk” has been adapted with a completely different tone, presenting a dark and mysterious atmosphere. Extreme character psychology, explicit bed scenes early in the series and unresolved supporting character arcs have divided viewers, with some finding these elements unappealing.
Kim Kyu-tae admitted that he had hoped viewers would find “The Trunk” entertaining, but acknowledged, “This is not a casual work. Its unfamiliarity compared to typical mystery melodramas and the focus required might explain the polarized reactions.”
He clarified that he didn’t aim to create a conventional romance, saying, “The unusual dynamics and contradictory psychologies of the characters were fascinating to me. People often don’t fully understand themselves. Exploring such extreme and unhealthy individuals and their paths to recovery felt meaningful.”
Kim added, “I wanted to talk about universal values. By portraying distorted relationships formed out of loneliness and isolation, I hoped viewers could relate and build empathy through their own experiences.”
Addressing criticism about unresolved supporting character arcs and the open-ended conclusion, Kim explained, “I had to focus on the main characters. The subplots involving supporting characters were necessary for the story but couldn’t be fully developed due to time constraints. If it had been a 16- or 20-episode series, I could have explored these details further.“
He also stated, “I wanted the series to make viewers uncomfortable. It’s not about events but about psychological mystery. I focused on the duality in relationships and emotions. I aimed for the expression to also be dual—both unfamiliar and intriguing. This duality—‘Why do I feel this way?’—was intended to be a key point of engagement for viewers.”
Source: Nate
