The resolution of Um Tae-seong’s murder (Kim Dong-won) brought a satisfying conclusion to Netflix’s The Trunk. Starring Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin, the series intricately weaves a story around a mysterious trunk that leads to the discovery of a corpse.
The narrative centers on Han Jeong-won (Gong), a music producer struggling with drug addiction, who is pushed into a fake marriage by his ex-wife, Lee Seo-yeon (Jung Yun-Ha), alongside a company named New Marriage (NM). Noh In-ji (Seo), one of NM’s top employees, is married to Jeong-won, creating a complex dynamic.
As Jeong-won and In-ji develop feelings for each other, their respective histories create obstacles in their budding romance. After being released from a mental health facility, Tae-seong is determined to keep them apart, which leads to his eventual death at the hands of an NM employee. The season finale of this K-drama sees Jeong-won and In-ji part ways, with the killer of Tae-seong apprehended.
A love story hindered by betrayal and the weight of unresolved pasts (Photo: The Trunk/Donwin Films)Will Jeong-won and In-ji End Up Together?
The narrative primarily focuses on Jeong-won and In-ji’s romantic journey, leaving their future together ambiguous at the series’ conclusion. Initially hesitant to form an emotional connection, In-ji and Jeong-won play pivotal roles in each other’s lives through their arranged marriage.
Jeong-won revives In-ji’s spirit, while she becomes essential to his healing process. It’s surprising that In-ji decides to leave their marriage despite their deep feelings for one another.
Jeong-won believes they are meant to be together, given that In-ji supported him during his darkest moments, even before their marriage. He encourages her to reconsider their relationship if fate brings them together again.
After some time apart for healing, they encounter each other on the street, marking what could be seen as a fortuitous meeting. Though the show leaves their potential reunion open-ended, the finale suggests a hopeful possibility.
The Contents of the Trunk
The series features two identical trunks, each with unique contents. One belongs to In-ji, while the other, previously owned by Jeong-won, is now in Seo-yeon’s possession following their divorce.
Tae-seong breaks into Jeong-won and In-ji’s home, hoping to expose the falsehood of their marriage by seizing a trunk he believes contains NM’s manual and their marriage contract. Instead, he inadvertently takes Seo-yeon’s trunk.
In a desperate bid to unlock the trunk, Tae-seong lures In-ji to the lake where she used to paddle, threatening Jeong-won’s life. When she enters the wrong combination, it becomes evident that the trunk does not belong to her, a fact that Tae-seong fails to realize.
As Seo-yeon is questioned about Tae-seong’s death at the end of The Trunk, the detective asks her to confirm that nothing is missing by examining the trunk, which contains toys and clothes she had bought for her unborn child.
Who Is Responsible for Eom Tae-seong’s Death?
The mystery surrounding Tae-seong’s murder is central to The Trunk’s narrative intrigue. The show opens with the discovery of a body soon after an enigmatic trunk is retrieved from the water.
The deceased is identified as Tae-seong, a former NM employee who had been harassing In-ji. His actions endangered those around her, turning her life into a nightmare. During a confrontation at the lake, In-ji shoots him in self-defense, but the bullets turn out to be blanks, leaving him unharmed.
In the 2024 K-drama, Yun Ji-o (Jo Yi-geon) emerges as the one who kills Tae-seong, even though others desired his death. Ji-o was present when Tae-seong brutally attacked one of NM’s keepers but did nothing to intervene. Burdened by guilt, Ji-o, a trained fencer and NM security guard, takes on the CEO’s directive to eliminate Tae-seong to atone for his earlier inaction.
Seo-yeon’s Motivation Behind Jeong-won and In-ji’s Marriage
From the outset of The Trunk, Seo-yeon’s unhealthy obsession with Jeong-won becomes apparent. Despite her reluctance to become a mother, Jeong-won’s pregnancy was influenced by Seo-yeon’s desire for a child prior to their divorce. As the day of her child’s birth approached, Seo-yeon intentionally placed herself in danger on a busy street, hoping for an end to her life.
Witnessing this event, Jeong-won prioritized saving his child, a decision that enraged Seo-yeon, who wanted to remain the most important person in his life.
A love story hindered by betrayal and the weight of unresolved pasts (Photo: The Trunk/Donwin Films)Following her recovery, she devised a plan to reclaim Jeong-won’s affection by setting him up with In-ji, anticipating that he would eventually beg her to return. Jeong-won’s shock at falling in love with In-ji complicates Seo-yeon’s attempts to control him.
Seo-yeon’s Fate in The Trunk’s Finale
As the series plays, Seo-yeon’s plan begins to crumble. Jeong-won discovers her hidden camera in his home, a betrayal that becomes the tipping point despite all the wrongdoings she committed during their relationship. Her actions are even more reprehensible considering that Jeong-won’s father had similarly violated his mother’s privacy.
After realizing she has lost Jeong-won forever, Seo-yeon attempts suicide. Upon waking, she insists on staying with him, and he reluctantly agrees while reiterating his wish to be free of her.
The complexity of Seo-yeon’s actions makes her character challenging to decipher. Her choice to pursue a troubled marriage with Ji-o reflects her belief that she deserves to be with someone who shares her warped values.
The True Meaning of The Trunk’s Ending
The only unresolved question in The Trunk’s season finale is whether Jeong-won and In-ji will ever meet again. Following Tae-seong’s death, NM is no longer at risk of exposure, as In-ji retains her trunk, which holds evidence of the company’s dealings. Jeong-won and In-ji part ways with a promise of future reunions.
With the mystery of Tae-seong’s murder resolved and Seo-yeon finding her appropriate partner, The Trunk concludes all its narratives. However, this conclusion diminishes the likelihood of a second season renewal.
