[Sports Chosun Online, Reporter Jeong Anji] The Netflix series “Trunk,” set to be released on Friday, November 29, is a mysterious melodrama that revolves around a secretive marriage service revealed by a trunk that floated on a lake and the peculiar marriage story of the two main characters within it. It deeply dives into the complex emotions of love, compassion, salvation, obsession, desire, loneliness, and emptiness involved in “contractual marriages” and is expected to portray their relationships with intensity.
Ahead of its release, the teaser poster and trailer, which have been unveiled and set high expectations, are joined by character stills released on this day. These stills capture the unusual first meeting of the “contractual couple” Noh In-ji (played by Seo Hyun-jin) and Han Jung-won (played by Gong Yoo), as well as their seemingly ordinary but special married life, drawing attention.
First, Noh In-ji’s striking visuals in her fifth marriage with Han Jung-won capture attention. Her indifferent expression, which contrasts with her pure white wedding dress, elevates curiosity about the character “Noh In-ji.” Seo Hyun-jin is forecasted to deliver a powerful performance of Noh In-ji’s empty and withered inner world, made solitary by marriage. Seo Hyun-jin mentioned, “Noh In-ji is a character who is cowardly and timid, yet possesses strong altruism,” adding, “I wanted to express 100 emotions at a level of 10,” raising anticipation for her fresh portrayal.
Han Jung-won stimulates curiosity with his cold and lonely aura, evident in his sharp gaze. Faced with Noh In-ji, who filled the void left by his ex-wife Lee Seo-yeon (played by Jung Yun-ha), Han Jung-won’s worn-out countenance further intrigues. The change Noh In-ji brings to his warmth-less space piques curiosity. Regarding Han Jung-won, who became terribly lonely after getting married, Gong Yoo expressed, “He is an emotionally unstable, lonely, and exhausted character. I acted thinking of him as a person who does not reveal his true self or emotions, someone with strong self-defense,” making the character submerged in anxiety and loneliness more intriguing.
Moreover, the meeting of Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo excites drama fans just by itself. The two actors, each with their secrets and pain, build a process of filling loss and deficiency with delicate emotions, enhancing immersion. Director Kim Gyu-tae emphasized, “My expectation for Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo as actors was the primary reason I decided to direct ‘Trunk,'” adding, “They exceeded expectations. Their chemistry, praising and encouraging each other during the work, was a ‘lovely combination’ from the director’s perspective.”
Meanwhile, “Trunk,” based on the novel of the same name by Kim Ryeo-ryeong, who garnered attention with daring material and inventive imagination, combines the efforts of director Kim Gyu-tae, known for dramas such as “Our Blues” and “It’s Okay, That’s Love,” and writer Park Eun-young, recognized for “Hwarang,” to present a bold and sensuous mystery melodrama.
The high-class mystery melodrama “Trunk,” intricately delving into genuine and fake entangled secret marriages, will be released worldwide on Netflix on Friday, November 29.