Netflix's new series 'Trunk' (written by Park Eun-young, directed by Kim Kyu-tae) has ranked third in the global non-English category on Netflix.
According to Netflix on the 11th, 'Trunk' recorded 4.1 million views (the number of viewing hours divided by the total running time of the work) in its second week of release, placing it third in the Netflix Global Top 10 TV (non-English) category. It also made it to the top 10 lists in 41 countries, including South Korea, Brazil, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Released on the 29th of last month, the Netflix original series 'Trunk' (written by Park Eun-young, directed by Kim Kyu-tae) depicts a mysterious marriage service revealed by a trunk that floats on a lakeside, and the strange marriage story of two characters, No In-ji (played by Seo Hyun-jin) and Han Jeong-won (played by Gong Yoo).
Based on the novel of the same name by writer Kim Ryeo-ryeong, the series is directed by Kim Kyu-tae, who also directed the dramas 'Our Blues' and 'It's Okay, That's Love'. It presents the unfamiliar theme of 'temporary marriage' in a mysterious way, focusing on the relationships and love between characters.
The anticipation was high for the first meeting of 'Melodrama Queen' Seo Hyun-jin and 'Melodrama King' Gong Yoo, but after its release, the series faced controversy over issues like sex work marriage, provocative direction, and a lack of coherence that did not match its buzz.
Director Kim Kyu-tae emphasized, "While the subject matter may seem provocative, in our work, it serves merely as a medium to find reality within unrealistic settings," but the unveiled drama seemed to prioritize 'provocation' above all.
In particular, looking at the system and conditions of 'temporary marriage', the employer and employee must sleep in the same room on their wedding night and can engage in physical relations under the premise that both parties consent. These conditions are reiterated in the dialogue, such as "Isn't it a kind of expensive maid service? It even does XX," "Isn't it okay if we want it? It's our part," and "Sure, if we both want it."
Moreover, while there are several bed scenes, the differentiation in exposure between the lead and supporting actors has drawn public criticism. The bed scenes between the protagonists Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo minimize exposure to emphasize 'emotional lines', while the scenes involving Jung Yoon-ha and Jo Yi-gun feature full nudity, resulting in lengthy bed scenes. Although it reflects the different character traits, the lack of persuasiveness has been a dominant critique.
The actors expressed through various media interviews that they "anticipated mixed reactions. Some may feel uncomfortable, and we were prepared for that," while also showing pride in the work and emphasizing their interpretations and meanings. It reflects a unique teamwork. However, the initial reactions from viewers have generally leaned towards harsh criticism, and this seems to be fading into indifference.
Netflix is already focusing its efforts on promoting the highly anticipated global project 'Squid Game 2' for the end of the year.
