Taiwan's entertainment industry is embroiled in yet another military service evasion scandal, igniting public fury — and this time, South Korea's BTS has been invoked as a point of comparison.
On Monday, Taiwanese outlets including TVBS, Taipei Times, and ETtoday reported that singer-actor Chu Cheng-yi (36), widely known by the nickname "Prince," was arrested by New Taipei police on charges of evading military service.
Chu was handcuffed and escorted to a police station for questioning. He reportedly admitted to paying a broker 300,000 to 400,000 New Taiwan dollars (approximately 10.8 million to 14.1 million won) in exchange for a forged hypertension diagnosis. About 10 people were arrested alongside Chu in the crackdown.
The case is an extension of a larger scandal that broke last year. In June 2024, Taiwanese prosecutors indicted 28 people — including nine entertainers such as popular actor Wang Dalu — on charges of obstructing military service and document forgery under military law.
With public fatigue over repeated celebrity draft dodging reaching a peak, the latest arrests further inflamed public opinion.
Taiwanese media and internet users promptly invoked K-pop acts including BTS and EXO. Reactions poured in: "BTS are global superstars, yet every single member enlisted," "Learn from Korea," and "Are Taiwan's standards more shallow than Korea's?"
Local media reported that an overwhelming number of voices pointed to the fact that BTS members remained popular even after completing their service, saying, "Our country can only survive if we do the same."
Amid escalating military tensions with China, Taiwan extended its mandatory service period from four months back to one year starting in 2024. The measure, announced by then-President Tsai Ing-wen in late 2022, effectively reversed decades of gradual reductions in military service requirements, reflecting a growing sense of security awareness in Taiwan. Criticism has been especially fierce because repeated celebrity draft evasion runs directly counter to this social climate.