TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The recent arrest of Taiwanese actor Darren Wang (王大陸) for evading military service has drawn attention to many public figures’ notable absence from Taiwan’s conscription service.
Authorities took Wang into custody on Tuesday (Feb. 18) for questioning over allegations of forging medical records to evade military service.
Wang reportedly sought help from an illegal group that assisted conscripts in evading military service in exchange for NT$100,000 to NT$1 million.
The syndicate attracted clients by promoting draft evasion through personal networks, with fees ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 for the general public and up to NT$1 million for celebrities like Darren Wang (王大陸).
This incident has reignited scrutiny over Taiwan's conscription system and how several celebrities have avoided service due to medical exemptions. Jay Chou (周杰倫), known as the King of Asian Pop, was exempt due to ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that primarily affects spinal joints, causing back pain. Golden Bell Awards (金鐘獎) best actor Vic Chou (周渝民) was excused due to depression.
In politics, Freddy Lim (林昶佐), former legislator and CHTHONIC's lead singer, was exempted due to anxiety disorder. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) served only 12 days in the military due to a herniated disc.
As Wang’s military evasion scandal unfolds, Dr. Chiang Kuan-yu (姜冠宇) of Taipei City Hospital (台北市立聯合醫院) stressed the near impossibility of feigning illness to avoid military service during conscription health checks.
Even if an initial report finds someone unfit for service, a re-examination by two experts is mandatory, ensuring accuracy and fairness in the process, he said.
The doctor emphasized that those exempted undergo rigorous checks, which require verification by two experts, especially for heart conditions that need instrumental testing.
Taiwan mandates military service for men aged 18 to 36, with training that includes live-fire drills, hand-to-hand combat, drone operation, and survival skills. Amidst tense cross-strait relations and a declining birthrate, the country reinstated a one-year mandatory service in 2024, adjusting training content.
As details of the draft-dodging syndicate’s comparatively low pricing for evading conscription is revealed, high-profile figures potentially using influence and paying to evade service have become a focal point of public interest.
