.webp "Are Taiwan’s Celebs Getting Caught in the Biggest Military Evasion Crackdown Yet") |
| Is Taiwan’s Showbiz Facing a New Draft Evasion Scandal with Chen Bolin and Hsiu Chieh-kai at the Centre? |
Taiwan’s showbiz scene woke up to yet another shocker this week. On the morning of October 21, police officers carried out the third wave of arrests linked to a long-running investigation into celebrities allegedly dodging mandatory military service.
Among those taken in for questioning were actors Chen Bolin and Hsiu Chieh-kai, plus Energy member Joe Chang Shu-wei.
According to local media, the early-morning operation saw officers visiting multiple addresses in Taipei and New Taipei City, detaining several high-profile figures for further inquiry.
This new sweep follows earlier arrests in the same investigation, which first came to light earlier this year when actor Darren Wang was accused of paying NT$3.6 million (around US$117,000) to a syndicate that provided fake medical certificates to help celebrities skip or shorten their military service.
Chen Bolin’s Exemption Under Fresh Scrutiny
Actor Chen Bolin, best known for his iconic role as Li Daren in In Time With You, was reportedly at home with his long-time girlfriend Chen Ting-Hsuan when authorities came knocking.
Back in 2011, Bolin was exempted from service due to asthma and high blood pressure.
However, prosecutors are now re-examining the authenticity of that diagnosis after the main suspect in the fraud ring allegedly claimed to have “assisted” in acquiring Bolin’s exemption.
The medical certificate that once cleared him from enlistment is now under judicial review, with officials saying no conclusions have yet been reached.
.webp "Why Are So Many Taiwanese Celebs Suddenly Being Questioned Over Military Exemptions") |
Hsiu Chieh-kai Admits to Paying for False Records
Meanwhile, Hsiu Chieh-kai — often regarded as one of Taiwan’s “model family men” — has reportedly admitted to paying NT$150,000 (approx US$4,800) to falsify a medical report showing high blood pressure, hoping to avoid standard military duty.
The 42-year-old actor, who once appeared in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story, originally served five months of alternative service in 2016 before being discharged early when his wife, actress Alyssa Chia, was pregnant with their third child.
While early discharge for conscripts with two or more children under 12 is legal, investigators now suspect his medical exemption application involved tampered documentation.
Chia, who was away filming in Xiamen when police arrived at their home, has yet to make a public comment.
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Spotlight on Energy’s Joe Chang Shu-wei
Singer Joe Chang Shu-wei from the boy band Energy is also under investigation.
The 44-year-old was reportedly excused from service years ago due to thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder.
Authorities are now examining whether his diagnosis was genuine or manipulated as part of the same military-evasion network.
Energy, who reunited last year after a 15-year hiatus, had already faced online scrutiny when fans noticed that all five members — Shu-wei, Edy, Milk, Toro, and Kunda — were exempted from military service.
The timing of the comeback and the revival of the investigation have now drawn renewed public attention.
According to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, ten people were detained in this latest round of questioning, five of whom belong to the entertainment industry.
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The operation remains connected to the earlier case involving Darren Wang Talu and 27 others, who were indicted in June for causing a public official to make false entries in government documents.
Wang Talu was later granted bail and is now awaiting trial, facing up to three years in prison if found guilty.
As for Chen Bolin and Hsiu Chieh-kai, both will be summoned again to clarify whether they had direct contact with the alleged middleman surnamed Chen, believed to have orchestrated multiple fraudulent medical exemptions for Taiwan’s rich and famous.
The arrests have sent ripples through Taiwan’s entertainment world.
Many fans expressed disappointment online, saying the issue “damages the credibility of genuine artists who served properly”.
Others called for fair treatment, urging authorities to verify evidence before making judgments.
Meanwhile, legal experts suggest that anyone proven to have faked medical conditions to avoid military service could face serious criminal charges, as well as long-term damage to their public image and commercial partnerships.