The Trunk- Episode 5
Episode 5 of The Trunk wastes no time turning up the heat, starting with In-ji and Jeong-won sharing a passionate night together. While In-ji dreams of chasing Do-ha in her wedding gown—only for him to turn into Jeong-won in her mind—Jeong-won watches her cry in her sleep, conflicted by Si-jeong’s ominous warnings about Tae-song.
Jeong-won’s curiosity about Tae-song gets the better of him, but when he offers to help In-ji deal with her stalker, she shuts him down, citing protocol. Meanwhile, Tae-song’s menacing presence escalates as he poses as a client to confront Seo-yeon, warning her not to mess with In-ji. Ji-o tails him, hinting at deeper connections.
As In-ji uncovers more blue pills taped to a sonogram, she starts piecing together Seo-yeon’s secrets with Si-jeong. Their uneasy alliance is tested as they reflect on their shared past and the death of their classmate Hye-yeong. Si-jeong wonders why they remain friends, brushing it off with a cryptic, “I don’t have many.”
In a flashforward, Yun-a reveals during interrogation that Seo-yeon and In-ji’s history goes deeper than it seems. In the present, Seo-yeon’s health takes a turn due to complications with her IUD, leading to a hospital stay where she’s forced to confront Jeong-won. His judgment over her decision to stay childless reopens old wounds, as a flashback reveals she deliberately walked into traffic during her pregnancy.
Jeong-won’s attempt to take control backfires spectacularly when he invites Tae-song to their home, determined to face him head-on. What starts as an intense confrontation turns chilling when Tae-song insinuates Jeong-won might kill him, just as he killed his mother. A shaken Jeong-won loses control, choking Tae-song before throwing him out.
The emotional tension doesn’t let up as Jeong-won and In-ji share vulnerable confessions. He reveals his guilt over prioritizing their unborn child, realizing it stemmed from a subconscious desire to punish Seo-yeon. In-ji shares her struggles with Tae-song, and the two bond over their shared emotional scars.
As Mr. Han’s health deteriorates, Seo-yeon visits him in his final moments, only to slap him when he opens his eyes—a last reflex before his death. The funeral preparations bring even more drama, with Seo-yeon inserting herself as the chief mourner and using the moment to further manipulate Jeong-won. In-ji stays on the sidelines but steps in quietly to tie Jeong-won’s tie, providing the support Seo-yeon refuses to give.
In a rare moment of defiance, In-ji confronts Seo-yeon, accusing her of letting Jeong-won shoulder the blame for their child’s death. She warns Seo-yeon to back off or risk exposure of her darkest secret. Seo-yeon, rattled, vents her frustrations to Ji-o, lamenting how her carefully crafted rules have unraveled in the face of In-ji’s growing influence.
The episode ends on a bittersweet note as In-ji steps into the spotlight as Jeong-won’s spouse for the funeral, surprising him with her quiet strength. Their day together afterward—a mix of driving, shopping, and reconnecting—gives Jeong-won a rare moment of peace. But as they scatter Mr. Han’s ashes, Seo-yeon returns with a devastating ultimatum: the time has come for In-ji to divorce Jeong-won.
DramaZen's Opinion
Ice queen In-ji is finally melting, and we are living for it! Her "funeral date" with Jeong-won was so unexpectedly sweet—how adorable was it to see them driving, shopping, and just enjoying each other's company? We needed more of that cuteness! Also, can we talk about the subtle nod to Goblin? That red scarf moment totally felt like a callback to Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun’s iconic look in the 2016 drama, and it gave me all the nostalgic feels.
But whew, Seo-yeon’s bullying past is officially crashing into the present in The Trunk Episode 5. The reveal that she, In-ji, Si-jeong, and poor Hye-yeong were classmates adds so much depth to their tension. Seo-yeon’s little rant to Ji-o about wishing In-ji would always “play second fiddle” is just so evil queen energy. Like, girl, how do you not realize that In-ji’s anger is totally tied to all that bullying?
That said, the motivations are starting to get a little murky, which is a first for this otherwise amazing Netflix K-drama. Why is In-ji so mad at Jeong-won for blaming himself for the accident? It’s clear Seo-yeon was struggling with perinatal depression—she didn’t even want a child to begin with. Their entire dynamic is swimming in ethical gray areas. Seo-yeon knowingly walked into traffic, and Jeong-won, on some level, admits to wanting her dead as punishment for their child’s death. Both of them are flawed, and while In-ji might understand Jeong-won’s feelings, how does she still weaponize them against Seo-yeon? It’s messy, and not in the good, dramatic way this show usually delivers.
Still, if this is the only hiccup in what’s been an incredible series so far, I’m willing to let it slide. Let’s hope the next episode clears things up, because this K-drama is way too good to let a little inconsistency get in the way of the drama we love!
