“D.P.,” the compelling Korean drama that brought spotlight on the abuse, bullying and violence in Korea’s military service, is returning for a second season, Netflix announced.
Starring Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan, season 1 was released on Netflix on Aug. 27. It resonated with viewers especially among Korean men, who are mandated by the Constitution to enlist in the military, and in countries with military service.
“D.P.,” which stands for deserter pursuit, is about a team in the Korean military police which catches those who abandon their military duty and not returning to their units.
In the drama, Jung Hae-in plays the role of Ahn Joon-ho, who enlists in the military, and his superior, Corporal Han Ho-yul (played by Koo Kyo-hwan). Ahn Joon-ho is selected as a member of the D.P. team and together with Han Ho-yul, they go after deserters.
Season 1 ended with Ahn Joon-ho walking in the opposite direction as the other soldiers. According to Netflix, season 2 will pick up where season 1 left off with director Han Jun-hee reuniting with writer Kim Bo-Tong.
The New York Times recently chose “D.P.” as one of the best international shows of 2021.
“The popular Korean-drama star Jung Hae-in goes decidedly unromantic as a soldier assigned to a unit that tracks down and brings back deserters, a task for which the recruit’s unflagging sense of duty makes him perfect and his compassion makes him perfectly unsuited,” according to the New York Times.
It added, “The show veers between slapstick action and overflowing sentiment, like many South Korea dramas, and the pursuit and apprehension of the deserters involves a lot of punching, slapping, tackling, tasing and hitting with baseball bats. But the show is also a sensitive and forthright examination of how violent, sadistic bullying and rigid hierarchies drive young South Korean men to go to almost any length to escape their compulsory military service.”