Taiwanese Actor Wang Dalu from 'My Girlhood' Arrested on Draft Evasion Charges

Wang Dalu (Wang Dailu, 33), a popular actor from Taiwan, has been arrested on charges of evading military service.

On the 18th, according to Liberty Times and Taiwan Central News Agency (CNA), the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office announced that it had arrested 11 people, including three brokers and eight military service evaders, on charges of obstructing military service and document forgery. Among them was the famous actor Wang Dalu.

Movie 'My Girlhood' lead actor Wang Dalu. Provided by distributor Odd.

원본보기 아이콘

According to reports, Wang Dalu is accused of handing over 1 million New Taiwan dollars (44 million KRW) to a doctor to obtain a forged medical certificate stating he had a heart condition for the purpose of evading military service.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office, accompanied by investigators and police, searched the residences of the suspects, including Wang Dalu’s home in Taipei City, secured their custody, and seized related evidence. The suspects are expected to be interrogated first by the police and then transferred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further questioning.

This is not the first time Wang Dalu has been suspected of evading military service. In 2015, he postponed his military duty citing university attendance, but it was reported that he hardly attended school. At that time, Wang Dalu reportedly stated regarding the evasion allegations, "What would I be avoiding at such a young age? I will enlist when the time comes," according to Taiwanese media.

Taiwan’s military service system is a mix of conscription and volunteer service, with Taiwanese men obligated to serve from age 18 to 36. Amid escalating regional security tensions such as cross-strait relations, during former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration in December 2022, a plan was adopted to extend mandatory military service from 4 months to 1 year, which began to be implemented in January last year.

Taiwan’s Military Service Act stipulates that anyone who fabricates reasons for exemption or postponement, or alters their physical grade through bodily harm or other methods to avoid conscription, can face imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Meanwhile, Wang Dalu gained great popularity in the Chinese-speaking world through films such as "Our Times" (2015) and "Playful Kiss." "Our Times" also drew attention domestically when it was released in 2016.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.