Jung Hae-in returns for season 2 of Netflix original 'D.P.'

From left, actors Kim Ji-hyun, Ji Jin-hee, Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun and Son Seok-koo pose during the press conference for the second season of Netflix series "D.P." held at a hotel in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Netflix

By Lee Gyu-lee

The second season of Netflix's original series “D.P.” is finally set to arrive on July 28, about two years after its first season created a buzz by spotlighting corruption and abuse in the military.

The military action series revolves around two soldiers ― Ahn Joon-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan) ― serving in a special unit called Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) which specializes in tracking down military deserters and bringing them in.

As the two take cases of deserted soldiers, they come across their different backstories and injustices in the organization that led them to flee from the military.

“(Season 2) captures the stories of the unchanging reality and injustice the two D.P. soldiers, Joon-ho and Ho-yeol, face,” Jung said during the press conference for the series held at a hotel in Gangnam District Seoul, Tuesday. “There are untold stories that need to be resolved from season 1 and they are well woven (in the new season).”

The new season, led by the previous director Han Jun-hee, will follow Ahn and Han picking up their work with D.P., confronting new deserters.

“Joon-ho keeps clashing as he gets used to the military from season 1, and as he does, he wears himself out and suffers mentally. And he keeps throwing questions to the injustices and thinks about what he can do,” Jung said. “There are different episodes with colorful stories. So it's not just deep and will have a lot to enjoy.”

A scene from season 2 of "D.P." / Courtesy of Netflix

The director shared that the new season will be about characters handling a traumatic incident that happened in the previous season.

“Season 1 ends with a really big incident and I thought it is important how that affected the characters. I wanted to show how each of those characters changes after that incident,” he said. “I think of 'D.P. 2' as a sad story. It's not about a particular organization or group but is about how individuals go through personally devastating times.”

He added that he put a lot of thought into the purpose of this series. “This is not a lighthearted story. I spent a lot of time thinking about why this story should exist when there are a lot of entertaining, funny and interesting stories out there,” he said. “We can't stop (injustices) that keep on happening but as we develop and make this series, we keep it in our mind and keep putting in thoughts. And I think that's the important part.”

The lead actors shared mixed feelings about the series' renewal for the second season.

“There was pressure. I didn't know it would be loved this much. So what the actors, director and crew said was not to get too excited and let's keep doing what we've done,” Jung said.

Koo added he felt at home when he reunited with the cast and crew for the new season. “I had a feeling that we would have season 2 when we were filming the first season,” he said. “And as the months passed, I felt like I was back to where I'm supposed to be.”