Jung Hae-in and Gu Kyo-hwan chase army deserters in D.P. 2

by solstices

Unforgiving and unafraid to shine a light on the harsh reality of military service, Netflix original D.P. is back for a second season. Despite its gut-wrenching violence and suffocating bleakness, the first season told its tale with candid sensitivity, and the sequel looks poised to do the same.

Reprising his role, Jung Hae-in (Connect) returns as the private Han Jun-ho. Together with the corporal Han Ho-yeol, played by Gu Kyo-hwan (Monstrous), Jun-ho is part of the military’s Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) unit. Their role? “To bring deserters back,” Jun-ho states, “without any problems.”

In the wake of the first season’s events, Moon Sang-hoon (Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3) plays the traumatized soldier Kim Roo-ri. Pushed to his breaking point by his platoon mates’ violent beatings and callous slights against his weight, a dazed Roo-ri grabs his rifle and opens fire on his squad.

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He isn’t the only victim. Musical actor Bae Nara (Eli) makes his screen debut as the runaway soldier Jang Sung-min, who’s been subjected to vicious bullying ever since his fellow soldiers found out that he’s a drag queen. Sung-min’s locker is defaced with derogatory insults and humiliating scribbles, and there’s no shortage of sexual harassment too. Unable to withstand their cruel torment any longer, Sung-min only sees one way out. “If I return to the army,” Sung-min pleads, “I’ll really die.”

Rounding out the main cast, we also have several anticipated names. Sohn Seok-gu (Big Bet) graces our screens once again as the lieutenant Im Ji-sub, whose allegiances are unclear after his transfer at the end of Season 1. There’s also the up-and-coming Choi Hyun-wook (Weak Hero Class 1), playing a squad leader whose anguished screams indicate tragedy on the horizon. And personally, as a fan of Bae Nara, I’m hoping he gets to show off his vocal prowess too. D.P. may be a difficult series to stomach, but with its solid cast and insightful storytelling, I’m definitely anticipating this upcoming season.

Helmed by director Han Joon-hee (D.P., Weak Hero Class 1), who wrote the drama’s scripts alongside the original webtoon author Kim Bo-tong, D.P. 2 is slated for a July 28 premiere.