Members Kunda and Shuwei of the Taiwanese boy band “Energy” have suffered a major blow to their image due to the military service evasion scandal, which has also affected the group’s activities. Reportedly, upcoming business performances, concerts, and plans to expand into China have all been called off. Along with possible compensation, losses are estimated to be nearly NT$100 million (approximately RM13.7 million).
According to Mirror Weekly, Energy was originally scheduled to attend the “North-South 2nd Route Music Festival” in November as well as concerts in Shenzhen and Chengdu, all of which have now been canceled. Kunda, who holds six individual endorsements, is hit the hardest. Industry insiders note that if he is ultimately found to be involved, he will not only face brand disassociation and removal of endorsements, but may also be required to pay substantial compensation.
Although the “North-South 2nd Route Music Festival” organizer has stated they will not demand breach-of-contract penalties, and Chunghwa Telecom and PX Mart, which Energy endorses, have not made any changes for now, nearly 100 scheduled business shows, year-end parties, and New Year’s events through June next year have all been canceled. Reportedly, this means they have already lost over NT$50 million in income (about RM6.85 million).
Currently, the group has only kept their 《ALL IN Complete Assault》concert at Taipei Arena and public charity events at the start of next year. The successive cancellations have led to low morale among the team and backstage staff.
The incident has now spread to the Chinese market, making Energy’s future even more difficult. According to industry sources, entertainers previously involved in military service controversies have almost all been placed on China’s “unwelcome list”—for example, Kai Ko and Bolin Chen were all blacklisted and banned. If Energy’s members are finally ruled to have broken the law, it will inevitably affect their future work opportunities in China. One source stated, “China is particularly sensitive about conscription issues. Once convicted, it’s almost impossible for the group to restart their entertainment careers on the Mainland.”
News sources: Mirror Weekly + Apple News + NOWnews Today News