Netflix series sparks debate over South Korea's military conscription

Published at 10:30 pm September 14th, 2021

DP - short for Deserter Pursuit - follows military policemen assigned to capture deserters, shining a light on daily life for many conscripts| Reuters

A hit Netflix series is reigniting a debate in South Korea over the country's massive military, its history of abuse scandals, and the mandatory conscription that fills its ranks with young men.

DP - short for Deserter Pursuit - has been among the top Netflix shows in South Korea since it premiered at the end of August.

The series follows military policemen assigned to capture deserters, shining a light on daily life for many conscripts, including mental and physical abuse from other soldiers.

Director Han Jun-hee said he sought to tell a humanizing story about how the system makes deserters both victims and criminals, as well as the toll it takes on those forced to do the hunting.

"DP is a story of tracing a deserter but, at the same time, it is a paradoxical story of looking for someone's unfortunate son, brother or lover," Mr Han told Reuters in an e-mail.

Asked about the popularity of the show, a Defence Ministry spokesman said that the military environment has changed and that the ministry has tried to stamp out abuse and harsh treatment.