Credit: CpopAccess



Male idols continue their continuing education

It’s that time of the year when top Taiwanese male idols go back to school. Some are reaching a milestone while others are already half way there. Despite a shorter military service nowadays, many stars (and their management companies) simply can’t afford to take a year off from their activities. Idol actors like Ming Dao, Ethan Ruan, Mike He, Joe Cheng will have to juggle school and work for yet another year.

Following the footsteps of actor Bobby Dou (竇智孔), Ming Dao is going into the tenth year of his post-secondary education. He was previously enrolled at the National Changhua University of Education (彰化師大) and Jinwen University (景文科技大學) before transferring to his current school Tungnan University (東南科技大學).

Ming Dao-lookalike Ethan Ruan is also taking his time. He is a student at the Hsin Wu College (醒吾技術學院) and takes classes one day per week. Ethan Ruan doesn’t rule out going to the military next year after completing his next movie. His classmates Joe Cheng and Mike He are also pushing back their graduation. Cheng has been busy with his book and acting, so he doesn’t plan to enlist at the moment. Meanwhile, Mike He hopes to complete 5 credits this year with classes on two days a week. He is returning to Taiwan in mid-October for filming and will try to attend classes while he is there.

Vic Chou was also a former student at Hsin Wu. He suspended his studies in 2007 after rumors of an exemption from military service due to depression. Million Star season 1 winner Yoga Lin currently attends the National Dong Hwa University (東華大學). He is a fifth year student and will be delaying his graduation as well.

A recap of veteran-idol-students (courtesy of Appledaily):

Ming Dao
Age: 30 (1980/02/26)
School(s): National Changhua University of Education, Jinwen University, Tungnan University
Major: English studies from co-op dept.
Years of study: 10

Ethan Ruan
Age: 27 (1982/11/08)
School(s): Hsin Wu College
Major: Tourism (year 2)
Years of study: 7

Mike He
Age: 26 (1983/12/28)
School(s): National Taiwan College of Physical Education, Hsin Wu College
Major: Tourism (year 2)
Years of study: 7

Joe Cheng
Age: 28 (1982/06/19)
School(s): Hsin Wu College
Major: Tourism (year 2)
Years of study: 7

Yoga Lin
Age: 23 (1987/07/01)
School(s): National Dong Hwa University
Major: Sport and Leisure studies
Years of study: 5

The Ministry of Defense recently announced that they plan to implement voluntary military service in 2015. Those who are born after 1994 will only need to undergo 4 months of military training. Unfortunately, a group of “veteran-student-celebrities” won’t be eligible to take advantage of the new policy.