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| Taiwan Star Darren Wang Caught Up in Draft-Dodging Case – Charged with Document Forgery (LTN.co.tw) |
Looks like Taiwan’s military evasion scandal has officially caught up with actor Darren Wang Talu. The Our Times star has now been formally charged by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office over his alleged involvement in a scheme to dodge Taiwan’s compulsory military service.
According to prosecutors, Darren was one of 28 individuals indicted in connection to the case, which centres around a wider network allegedly led by one Chen Chih-ming—a man now dubbed the mastermind behind a lucrative sideline in fake medical exemptions.
Authorities claim Darren paid Chen a hefty NT$3.6 million (around £90,000) to forge a fake medical diagnosis—reportedly hypertension—that would allow him to skip his service while he was overseas. The plan, however, collapsed before it could go through, as Chen was arrested in January 2025.
But here’s where it gets stickier: even after the original scheme fell apart, Darren Wang allegedly continued to submit false claims.
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Prosecutors say that in February, knowing full well his ID card and national health insurance card hadn’t been lost, he still filed applications for replacements—providing false information to both the Household Registration Office and the National Health Insurance Administration.
This has led to him being charged with forgery of public documents, a serious offence under Taiwanese law.
Although Darren eventually reported for military duty in March 2025, after the scheme crumbled, prosecutors believe the intent to evade remains clear. His cooperation post-failure has been noted, but it won’t erase the earlier actions.
Meanwhile, the scandal runs deeper than just Darren. Prosecutors say a whole ring of men, including other celebrities like Jushe Lee and William Liao, were involved in similar tactics to dodge their service—paying anywhere from NT$50,000 to NT$500,000 to get a false diagnosis.
Some even allegedly used tricks like holding their breath to manipulate blood pressure readings, or substituting someone else during 24-hour blood pressure monitoring sessions. Wild.
At the centre of it all, Chen Chih-ming is facing serious charges and could be staring down a five-year prison sentence. Authorities say he raked in over NT$7.6 million through the scheme, acting as a broker between clients and shady doctors or testing centres.
While Darren’s legal team hasn’t released a full statement yet, reports suggest he has acknowledged his wrongdoing, and prosecutors are now calling for a sentence that reflects both his involvement and his cooperation after being caught.
The case has sparked fresh discussion in Taiwan about fairness in military service, especially as celebrities continue to face scrutiny over attempts to dodge the draft. Watch this space—more fallout could be on the way.