D.P. Season 2 is finally here! Those who haven't seen the show may be wondering is D.P. based on true stories.
This is a very common question that people ask whenever they come across the show. Considering the show touches base on a very sensitive topic, we can expect people to be curious about it.
When the first season of D.P. came out in 2021, it received global recognition. This is because the creators of the show gave the world a look into the nitty-gritty of South Korean mandatory military service.
So is D.P. based on real events? Will the second season include these stories?
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What Webtoon Is D.P. Based On?
First of all, let's answer is D.P. a true story. The short answer is: no. D.P. is not based on a true story. Instead, it is actually an adaptation of a popular webtoon called D.P: Dog Days.
The webtoon was written by Kim Bo-tong, who is also credited as a co-creator of the series along with its director, Han Jun-hee.
The show and the webtoon both dramatize Kim's own experience when he was part of the mandatory military service in the country. Not only that, there are some bits and pieces of actual events that come from the news.
As a result, many believe that the verbal and physical abuse that the young men in the show experience is based on actual events.
Why Do People Believe D.P. is a True Story?
Throughout the six episodes of the first season, the show featured the story of a soldier and what led them to become a deserter. Most of the time, the reason was related to the bullying and hazing they experienced.
Even though the show is not real, many of the details included in the show have reportedly been based on actual events.
Korea Now filmed a video that asked discharged members of the military about their own experiences and whether they could relate to the show.
One man in the video shared that although the drama depicted "much worse" than his own experience, he could "relate to the atmosphere."
NME (via KoreaBoo) shared:
"From brutal beatings to sexual assault to dehumanizing humiliations, these fictional depictions of hazing are sadly far from exaggerated. Just look up news articles about bullying in the South Korean military."
As pointed out by KoreaBoo, there were 964 reported cases of military-related violence and harassment in 2020 alone. There are countless other cases that have been unreported.
How Bad Is the Treatment in the South Korean Military?
Without a doubt, D.P. has opened our eyes to the harsh realities of mandatory military service in South Korea. Ever since we can remember, men have been required to enlist once they reach 28 years old.
Whether you are an ordinary citizen or a high-profile celebrity, this is something that you have to do if you're a South Korean national.
With the realities that D.P. opened up, many are now wondering if mandatory military service should be continued.
Many of the discharged men believe the service should be retained, but some practices need to be improved. There are also those who believe it should instead be voluntary.
But importantly, things have slowly started to change in the military. For one, anyone in the military can file a complaint over text to the commanding officer. The perpetrator will then be disciplined.
Still, these issues continue to exist in the military. D.P. has done a great job at opening the eyes of the world to such cases. We hope that the show continues with this format and gives us more cases based on actual events.
By doing so, the show is helping open the doors to accepting that such abuse and harassment are never okay.
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