Only one member of the iconic Taiwanese boy band F4 has served in the military and it’s none other than Jerry Yan (言承旭) . This surprising revelation has reignited public discussions, especially amid recent controversies surrounding celebrity military evasion in Taiwan.

The “military draft dodger” scandal that has recently rocked the Taiwanese entertainment industry has brought attention back to older idol groups. Among them, F4 who shot to fame in the early 2000s with the drama Meteor Garden have come under fresh scrutiny. While fans might assume all members had fulfilled mandatory service, only Jerry Yan actually completed it.

According to reports, Jerry initially auditioned for the Navy Honor Guard but was rejected. He instead served on a naval patrol ship in Suao , a duty regarded by many as exceptionally grueling. His service experience was so formative that years after his discharge, he returned to the base to film scenes for his music video “多出來的自由 (Extra Freedom).”

His time in the navy wasn’t without personal hardship. Jerry revealed that during his service, his longtime girlfriend made long trips from Taipei just to visit him. However, just before his discharge, she ended their relationship via a letter an experience that left him devastated. Jerry admitted he once had thoughts of self-harm, but was ultimately supported by his comrades and senior officers.

Barbie Hsu Meteor Garden
Meteor Garden

By contrast, the rest of F4 Vic Chou (周渝民) , Ken Chu (朱孝天) , and Vanness Wu (吳建豪) were all exempt from military service for various reasons. Vic was excused after being diagnosed with depression, following three exemption applications. Ken, on the other hand, suffers from asthma and fibromyalgia, a rare pain-related condition. Vanness, who holds dual U.S. and Taiwanese citizenship and was born in the U.S., was not required to serve due to his overseas upbringing.

Interestingly, Jerry Yan completed his military service even before his official debut with F4, which explains why it rarely comes up in media discussions.

“I was just a regular soldier then,” Jerry once humbly said in an interview. “But that period shaped me in ways that fame never could.”

Sources: ETtoday