Is “The Trunk” K-Drama Based On A Webtoon?

Alright, let’s talk about The Trunk. Is it based on a webtoon? Nope. And I know what you’re thinking—Wait, what? Because this drama has all the hallmarks of a classic webtoon adaptation. Wild plot twists. Deep-rooted trauma. Just enough slow-burn romance to make us collectively lose our minds.

But plot twist—it’s actually based on a novel by Kim Ryeo-ryeong.

Shocking? A little.

Disappointing? Not in the slightest.

Whether it started as a webtoon or a novel, one thing’s for sure—I am invested.

The drama. The romance. The one mysterious trunk that’s wrecking people’s lives. Yeah, my blood pressure has been through the roof since episode one. Someone check on me.

From Book To Drama: How The Trunk Became A Must-Watch

I swear, every other K-drama these days comes from a webtoon. See You in My 19th Life. Marry My Husband. Sweet Home. You get it.

But The Trunk? Oh, it’s taking the scenic route, acting like a literary snob and saying, “I have depth.”

And honestly? You can tell.

The storytelling has that extra weight, that oomph, that makes you sit back and think, Wow, my emotions were just personally attacked. I did not sign up for this level of stress, but here we are.

The storytelling has that extra weight, that oomph, that makes you sit back and think, Wow, my emotions were just personally attacked. I did not sign up for this level of stress, but here we are.

And if The Trunk were a webtoon? Let’s be honest—it would probably have some ridiculously dramatic title like My Contract Husband and the Suitcase of Secrets.

And yes, I’d still binge it. No regrets.

What’s Going On In The Trunk? Absolute Chaos, That’s What

Imagine a world where marriage comes with an expiration date.

No commitment. No drama. Just a neat, one-year contract.

Yeah. Like that’s gonna go smoothly.

Enter Noh In-ji (Seo Hyun-jin), a “field wife” for New Marriage (NM), a company that literally arranges contract marriages.

Then we have Han Jeong-won (Gong Yoo, a.k.a. the man who ages backward and ruins all our standards), a music producer forced into this little arrangement thanks to his meddling ex-wife.

And just when you think, Okay, this is chaotic enough,—BOOM.

A mysterious trunk washes ashore, dragging secrets, scandals, and life-destroying revelations into the mix.

A mysterious trunk washes ashore, dragging secrets, scandals, and life-destroying revelations into the mix.

I thought I had things figured out. The Trunk said, “Hold my coffee.”

And now, here I am, emotionally unprepared for what’s next.

Webtoon Energy? Here’s Why Everyone Thought The Trunk Came From One

I get it. I really do. This drama is dramatic.

The kind of show where characters stare intensely at each other for a solid 15 seconds, and somehow, you know everything has changed.

And with webtoon adaptations flooding the K-drama scene, anything this over-the-top is bound to be mistaken for one.

But nope, this one’s all novel.

And that explains a lot—especially why it leans into slow-burn tension instead of hitting us with instant, meme-worthy overreactions. Not that I don’t love a good, dramatically gasped “Oppa…” but The Trunk is playing the long game.

Contract Marriages? K-Dramas Do It Differently (And We Love It)

If you’re new to K-dramas, contract marriages might sound like the most ridiculous trope ever.

But hear me out—this taps into a very real cultural conversation.

In South Korea, marriage isn’t just about romance. It’s deeply tied to family expectations. Financial stability. Social pressure.

And then there’s jeong (정). A concept so uniquely Korean that I sometimes struggle to explain it.

Western romance thrives on big declarations. Cue someone running through an airport.

Korean dramas? They live for the slow burn. That one glance across the room. The barely-there hand touch. The shared umbrella scene where nobody speaks, but we feel everything.

Korean dramas? They live for the slow burn. That one glance across the room. The barely-there hand touch. The shared umbrella scene where nobody speaks, but we feel everything.

That’s jeong. That’s the kind of emotional agony we signed up for. And if The Trunk delivers on anything, it’s emotional turmoil with a side of breathtaking tension.

The Trunk Drama Vs. Novel: What Did They Change?

Because The Trunk started as a novel, the drama had to tweak a few things for the screen. Here’s what changed:

• Character Depth – In the novel, In-ji’s husband remains nameless. But in the drama? We get Han Jeong-won, played by Gong Yoo. Who, let’s be honest, could just stand there doing nothing, and I’d still be glued to my screen.
• More Thriller, Less Reflection – The novel was deep and introspective. The drama? It dials up the thriller. More action. More tension. More “WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?!” moments. And I’m not complaining.
• Relationship Expansion – The drama goes all in on In-ji and Jeong-won’s emotional tug-of-war, making their chemistry chef’s kiss perfection. If they don’t end up together, I may need time to recover.

So, Is The Trunk Worth Watching? (Spoiler: Yes!)

While The Trunk isn’t a webtoon adaptation, it has just as much drama, mystery, and emotional devastation as any True Beauty or Sweet Home.

Whether you came for the contract marriage trope, stayed for the thriller vibes, or just wanted to see Gong Yoo in a suit looking unfairly attractive, there’s something here for everyone.

If you loved Flower of Evil, Stranger, or Mine, go ahead and add The Trunk to your binge list.

Just don’t expect to trust anyone by the time you’re done.

So, what’s the verdict? Are you watching? Or are you already spiraling three episodes in, questioning your life choices? Because I am deep in my feelings, and I need backup.

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s collectively scream into the void together. And oh—don’t forget to like, subscribe, and mentally prepare for your next K-drama-induced breakdown!