‘Even BTS served’ — Taiwan slammed over celebrity draft dodging scandals

BTS / Xportsnews

Taiwan’s entertainment industry is facing renewed backlash over military service evasion scandals, with local media invoking global K-pop group BTS as a pointed comparison and urging the country to "learn from Korea."

According to Taiwanese outlets including TVBS, the Taipei Times and ETtoday, singer-actor Chiu Sheng-yi was brought in for questioning on Wednesday on suspicion of evading mandatory military service.

BTS / Xportsnews

Prosecutors and police in New Taipei said they arrested around 10 people as part of a broader crackdown on draft evasion schemes.

The case follows a series of high-profile scandals in Taiwan. In June last year, authorities indicted 28 individuals — including popular actor Darren Wang, several entertainers, a celebrity chef, a music producer, businessmen and a doctor — along with four brokers accused of facilitating draft evasion through forged documents.

As controversies continue to mount, Taiwanese media have openly expressed frustration, drawing sharp comparisons with Korea’s strict military service culture.

"BTS are global superstars, yet they all fulfilled their military duty," local outlets said, adding, "Taiwan should learn from Korea."

All seven members of BTS have completed their mandatory service. The group’s eldest member, Jin, enlisted in 2022 and was discharged in June 2024, followed by J-Hope in October that year. In 2025, RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook all completed active-duty service, while Suga fulfilled his duty as a public service worker.

The comparison has gained traction online, particularly among younger audiences, as debates intensify over fairness, privilege and accountability in Taiwan’s military system.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.