The Trunk- Episode 1
Episode 1 Recap: The Trunk
The premiere of The Trunk opens with Noh In-ji, a woman whose life revolves around orchestrating contract marriages with precision and detachment. Her latest assignment ends tragically as her “husband” passes away, and she severs all ties with clinical efficiency. Known as the best in the business, In-ji refuses her boss’s suggestion to take a break and dives headfirst into her next contract—this time with Han Jeong-won, a reclusive music composer shrouded in scandal.
Rumors swirl around Jeong-won’s supposed drug addiction following his divorce, but the truth is far more complicated. Plagued by insomnia, he relies on sleeping pills to get by. His home is haunted by remnants of his past, like the gaudy chandelier his ex-wife Lee Seo-yeon stubbornly refuses to reclaim. On the morning of their arrangement, Jeong-won leaves for work, unaware that In-ji has already moved in, slipping on the wedding ring he had chosen for her as part of their charade.
At the studio, Jeong-won’s day spirals when a co-worker accuses him of drug use, forcing him into a humiliating test. His boss, Hyeon-cheol, steps in to mediate but finds it peculiar that Jeong-won, the true owner of the label, prefers to remain in the shadows. Meanwhile, Seo-yeon, who works with Hyeon-cheol’s wife, learns of Jeong-won’s troubles but dismisses the rumors, telling colleagues he’s perfectly fine—and getting married.
That evening, Seo-yeon meets Jeong-won for dinner. Though cold and distant, it’s clear there’s history between them. High school sweethearts, their relationship fractured after a life-threatening incident that pushed Seo-yeon away. Jeong-won’s lingering love is evident as he gifts her earrings, but her indifference cuts deep. She leaves before the food arrives, departing with her much younger husband, leaving the earrings behind in the car.
Unable to let go, Jeong-won follows her, only to be consumed by jealousy and heartbreak. He breaks her car window, leading to his arrest, but Seo-yeon once again bails him out. In-ji arrives to retrieve her “husband,” but Jeong-won keeps his distance, grappling with the absurdity of their arrangement. At home, In-ji cooks for him and calmly directs him to the “manual” for their contract marriage, leaving Jeong-won bewildered by her unemotional approach.
That night, Jeong-won’s troubled mind conjures nightmares of his mother’s violent past, leaving him shaken. As In-ji carries on with her meticulous care, the cracks in both their lives begin to surface. The police, meanwhile, uncover a stolen trunk eerily similar to the one In-ji uses, accompanied by a gunshot at 1 a.m., a Prada wallet, and ominous questions that could upend their fragile arrangement.
In-ji, too, has her own secrets. At her modest apartment, she chats with her nosy neighbor, who unwittingly dredges up memories of In-ji’s missing fiancé. Her offhand joke about having “killed him” leaves a shadowy unease, compounded when a friend informs her that Eom Tae-song, a figure from her past, has been released from a mental hospital. Alarmed, she ensures her taser is ready in her trunk.
Jeong-won’s struggles intensify as he attempts to reconcile with Seo-yeon, only to be met with her cruelty. She wears the earrings he gave her but dismisses his concerns about their bizarre arrangement, even wishing for his death. His longing for closure battles with the bitterness of their estranged connection.
Back home, Jeong-won begins to see a different side of In-ji as she surprises him with a meal tailored to his tastes. Their tentative rapport takes a playful turn when he teases her about intimacy, only to retreat in embarrassment. However, their coexistence remains strained—her late-night TV habits spark an argument that escalates into a symbolic clash. When Jeong-won throws a beer can at the chandelier, shattering glass rains down, and In-ji instinctively shields him. Her selfless act leaves her injured, but Jeong-won begins to see the depth of her resilience.
As the episode ends, the police zero in on Jeong-won, interrogating him about the stolen trunk. His chilling response: “It belongs to my wife.”
This layered and suspenseful debut leaves us with burning questions. Who is Eom Tae-song, and what secrets does In-ji hide? How deep is Jeong-won’s connection to the mysterious trunk? And what dark truths tie these seemingly disparate lives together? Episode 1 of The Trunk promises a twisted journey filled with intrigue, heartbreak, and shocking revelations.
DramaZen's Opinion
OMG, can we talk about how The Trunk totally hooked me from the very first episode? Sure, the leads are amazing—seriously, their performances are spectacular—but what really blew me away was the visual storytelling from director Kim Kyu-tae. Like, Jung-won’s house? It’s a whole vibe. The winding staircase, the arched doorways—it’s so aesthetically pleasing but also kinda... sinister? The way the characters are framed makes you zero in on them, but instead of feeling cozy, it’s like they’re trapped in this luxurious prison. And don’t even get me started on that chandelier. At first, it’s all "ooh, fancy," but then you notice the sharp edges, and suddenly it’s more horror movie than haute couture. A literal gilded cage. Obsessed.
And let’s give it up for cinematographer Park Jang-hyuk because WOW. If you’ve seen The Whirlwind, Little Women, or Our Blues, you already know he’s a genius with colors, but The Trunk? Next level. The contrast between In-ji’s fiery reds and the icy blues around her—like her kayak, her coat, the trim on her trunk, and, ugh, that haunting moment with the blood—is so striking. Meanwhile, Jung-won is just drowning in greens and blues, totally embodying his sad-boy energy. But here’s the kicker: when their worlds collide, you get PURPLE. Purple! It’s so subtle but also so meaningful—will this relationship be transformative and healing, or are we spiraling toward tragedy?
Whatever happens next, one thing’s for sure—The Trunk is absolutely stunning. Like, even if the story wasn’t so juicy (and it is), I’d watch just to soak in the visuals. Can’t wait to see where this wild ride takes us! 💜
