“As a husband and father, I feel deeply sorry for my wife and children,” actor Hsiu Chieh-kai publicly stated on October 21 in response to his ongoing military evasion scandal that has rocked Taiwan’s entertainment scene. The actor confessed to using falsified medical records to reduce his military obligation—a move he now calls a “youthful mistake.”
In 2016, Hsiu reportedly paid 150,000 TWD to a third-party intermediary to falsify a medical record indicating he had hypertension. Although initially intending to gain full exemption, he eventually served a shortened 5-month substitute service instead of the mandatory 12 months, citing his wife’s pregnancy as a reason for early discharge.
Now out on bail for 500,000 TWD, Hsiu has pledged full cooperation with authorities and faces up to five years in prison if convicted. The fallout has already been severe, with four endorsement contracts suspended and estimated damages exceeding 10 million TWD.
His wife, actress Alyssa Chia, returned to Taiwan from Xiamen, China, immediately after the arrest to support their two daughters, Bu Bu (10) and Bo Bo (8). Speaking to the press, Alyssa supported the need for judicial cooperation but strongly criticized the method of enforcement. “The prosecutors and investigators came to our home early in the morning and handcuffed him in front of the children. That was deeply inhumane,” she stated, expressing deep concern for their daughters’ psychological well-being.
“I was shocked and extremely worried about the emotional health of the children after witnessing everything,” she added. Her emotional remarks have sparked debate over how law enforcement should handle arrests involving families and minors.
The scandal has also drawn public scrutiny over how celebrities reportedly misuse health exemptions. Online commenters sarcastically criticized the entertainment industry, saying, “Apparently everyone in their 20s has high blood pressure, while the elderly and sick are busy acting.” Others condemned the psychological toll on Hsiu’s young daughters, arguing that “handcuffing a parent in front of children is unnecessary and traumatizing.”
Born in 1983 in Taipei, Hsiu Chieh-kai debuted in the early 2000s and gained recognition through dramas like Hot Love, The Rebel, and My Wife’s Lover. He married Alyssa Chia in 2015, and the couple has long been admired for their family image—now painfully disrupted by this scandal.
The controversy not only questions personal responsibility but also reignites discussions around privilege, civic duty, and how law enforcement balances justice with compassion.
Sources: Ettoday, Sinchew
You must be logged in to post a comment.