Double Standards and the Collapse of a Facade: Prominent Relationship Expert Ku-Ling's Extramarital Affair and Divorce Scandal

On November 16, 2001, the divorce and extramarital affair of Ku-Ling (Wang Yu-jen), a best-selling relationship writer and TV host known for his open-minded marriage philosophies and devoted husband image, were officially confirmed by the media. The scandal triggered immense shock and condemnation across the Republic of China (ROC). For years, Ku-Ling had built a lucrative public image as a moral guide and marriage expert; however, his private actions directly betrayed his public teachings. Following the divorce, his ex-wife published a tell-all novel, "Death of a Writer," exposing his personal life and sexual preferences. The two subsequently engaged in a messy legal battle over breaching the non-disclosure clause in their divorce agreement. The scandal completely shattered Ku-Ling's credibility, forcing him to resign from all TV shows and retreat from public life in 2003. Commentators pointed out that his hypocrisy—preaching morality while engaging in deceit—prefigured his later behavior as a pro-green political pundit, where he consistently deployed double standards to smear political opponents, serving as a historic case study of how public credibility is bound to private integrity.