[Drama Notes] Witness the hell built by bullies and bystanders by South Korean military culture "DP: Deserter Pursuit"

Title: "DP: Deserter" (디피)
Language: Korean Episodes: 6 (one season)
Year of broadcast: 2021

Based on the Korean military culture, there is no love element at all. It is adapted from the webtoon "DP: The Day of the Dog" (DP: 개의날). In 2021, the short film "DP: Deserter Pursuit" starring Ding Haiyin can be said to be One of the most unconventional Korean dramas this year, unfortunately, the broadcast schedule forced another popular Korean drama "Doctor Wise Life 2", which made the discussion relatively less.

"DP" is abbreviated from "Deserter Pursuit", which refers to the special organization in the Korean National Army that is responsible for chasing deserters. For fans of director Shin Won-ho, they may find many familiar faces in "DP: Deserter". In addition to Ding Hae-in himself who played "Devil Captain Liu" in "Witty Prison Life", including Kim Sung-kyun who played Sanqianpo in "Reply 1994", and Go Kyung-pyo who played the dutiful son Sun-woo in "Reply 1988", Even Go reporter Liu Lan (played by Pei Yulan) showed completely different acting skills outside of "Shin Won Ho Universe".

In the play, Ding Hae-in plays a recruit who was selected to enter the DP just after enlisting in the army. He is in charge of chasing down deserters who have left the guard for various reasons with their senior Han Hao-yeol (played by Gu Jiao-hwan). Although the plot sounds like a handsome action movie, "DP: Deserter" actually focuses more on presenting the bullying culture in the South Korean military and criticizes the attitude of onlookers turning a blind eye. Although there are only 6 short episodes, the rhythm is lively and the narrative is smooth, and the description of organization and human nature can be thought-provoking. Although the story is about the military, it also subtly metaphors the various scenarios that may appear in all strata organizations, even in society.

For Korean men, "enlistment" is a big event, not only does it make people's mood drop to hell in an instant, but the day of enlistment is like parting from life and death, and it is also a scene that appears in many Korean dramas. Through "DP: Deserter Pursuit", the audience may also have a better understanding of the "risk" of being a soldier in South Korea, and at the same time understand why dignitaries, entertainers, and even athletes try their best to escape such a fate.

"DP: Deserter Pursuit" short story: The original author is a former DP member!

As "DP: Deserter Pursuit" has received widespread response in South Korea, the original author of the online comic also accepted an interview with the media and disclosed that he was a member of DP in the past, and the content of the comic is based on his own real experience. Regarding his own work, he said: "It's not about reporting anyone, but about the confession that he had done by watching and allowing such a bad habit to continue."

So far, "DP" still exists in the South Korean army, with an actual number of no more than 100 people. However, under the attention drawn by the Korean drama boom, the South Korean government also announced that it will abolish such a system next year. At the same time, the South Korean Ministry of Defense also emphasized that "the current The actual situation of the army is different from that in the play.” However, some media pointed out that although the number of military suicides has declined in recent years, the proportion has been increasing. Whether the environment of the Korean National Army has improved, perhaps only the soldiers who are in it will know the real answer.