Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin’s new Netflix drama 'The Trunk' sparks heavily divided opinions among viewers

Viewers are sharing mixed reactions to Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin's latest drama.

On an online forum, netizens are actively discussing the Netflix series 'The Trunk,' which has already climbed to #1 on the streaming platform domestically. The drama has attracted attention for its star-studded casting and its unconventional take on love and marriage.

One netizen described the show as "Crazy people coming out and doing crazy love, and yet... it’s a heartwarming drama. Do 'The Trunk.'" As their own playful "sales pitch," this netizen expressed their approval of the series.

However, opinions remain divided. Some netizens have labeled it "one of the most boring dramas" they’ve seen recently, while others expressed discomfort with its treatment of prostitution as the basis for contractual marriage, the central theme of the story.

Here are some of the viewer reactions:

"I binged it over the weekend, and it’s so good."

"It’s entertaining!"

"They’re masters of melodrama. Both of their performances are amazing... The genre is niche, and the buildup is slow, so the beginning feels dull, but if you can get through that, it’s worth watching."

"I wasn’t planning to watch it because it’s about prostitution, but I tried just the first episode and ended up loving it. Now I’m watching nonstop. It’s the collaboration of a legendary villainess, a classic female lead, a crazy guy, and a pitiful male lead."

"It’s been so long since I’ve seen a berserk melodrama like this. It’s amazing. I’m on episode 6 right now.

"It stays on your mind."

"If you like melodramas about healing and redemption, watch 'Trunk.' And by the way, the ending is really, really good."

"I wasn’t interested in the side characters, so I skipped those parts, but the romance between the leads was amazing, LOL."

"It’s so good, ugh."

"Oh... I’m going to binge it starting tomorrow morning, LOL."

"I watched halfway through, and since I’m okay with dark genres, I thought it was fine, LOL."

"Seo Hyun Jin’s acting is incredible. It matched my tastes, so I enjoyed it. The ending was so good, ugh."

"It’s a drama that fits perfectly with the current weather. As the backstory unfolded later on, I got really immersed."

"It’s all about crazy people, but it’s heartwarming. For real."

"Just watch until episode 3. After that, you’ll fly through to episode 8."

"I don’t usually like melodramas, so I found the beginning fun but got bored as it went on. Still, I think even people who don’t like melodramas can enjoy it."

"It felt really cheesy, ugh. The atmosphere was nice, but the dialogue was so cringy."

"If you like romances about slightly unhinged people, I recommend it, LOL."

"I gave up watching halfway through, but should I try again?"

"The chemistry wasn’t great."

"Super boring."

"I really enjoyed it; I watched it all in one day."

"It’s insanely good. It’s definitely aimed at adults, and people who’ve been through pain will understand it."

"Wow, this was the most boring thing I’ve watched recently... Both actors are great, but it just felt like acting the whole time. It didn’t feel real at all. Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin just seemed like they were at an acting showcase. With that cast, they should’ve gone for a simple rom-com instead."

"The lack of coherence made it hard to connect with the female lead’s character. The directing felt unnecessarily drawn out, and just watching the acting became tedious."

"It’s about prostitution and yet about salvation? LOL. Honestly, if it weren’t for those actors, I wouldn’t have touched this story. Sure, keep finding salvation through prostitution."

"This really shows how taking good actors and wrapping them up in the wrong material can turn out, LOL."

"It feels like they turned an indie movie concept into a big-budget drama. It’s dark, bizarre, and completely unrelatable."

"I had it playing in the background while doing other things. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a boring drama that I didn’t even care to know what happens next. Watching it felt exhausting."

"This kind of drama... not my thing."

"I dropped it after episode 4 because it was boring and outdated."

"There was no chemistry, no fun, and the subject matter was even worse. I tried watching for Gong Yoo but gave up because it was so boring."

"Oh my god, it was seriously so good... I feel so overwhelmed that I just want to scream somewhere."

"I just finished watching it, and I really enjoyed it. I think I’ll remember it in the winter."

"It was absolutely amazing. The ending was so satisfying that this became a life-changing drama for me."

"I wanted to quit watching the entire time but stuck with it. In the end, I wasn’t convinced why the leads were suddenly drawn to each other—it didn’t feel persuasive or relatable at all. And then, the sudden bed scene felt so out of place. Overall, it was boring. The saying 'turning caviar into a cheap stew' describes this perfectly."

"I watched it because I trust the actors, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I wish I had read some reviews beforehand—it felt like a waste of time."

Have you already watched this drama, or are you planning to?