{{Short description|Taiwanese politician and musician}} {{Expand Chinese|topic=bio|date=June 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lim Tshiong-tso | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-tw|林昶佐}}}} | native_name_lang = zh-tw | honorific_suffix = MLY | image = Amb Freddy Lim portrait.jpg | caption = Lim in 2025 | office1 = 5th Ambassador of Taiwan to Finland | status1 = | term_start1 = 20 July 2025 | president1 = Lai Ching-te | predecessor1 = {{ill|Janet Chang|zh|張秀禎}} | successor1 = | office2 = Member of the Legislative Yuan | term_start2 = 1 February 2016 | term_end2 = 31 January 2024 | predecessor2 = Lin Yu-fang | successor2 = Wu Pei-yi | constituency2 = Taipei City V | office3 = 1st Leader of the New Power Party | term_start3 = 25 January 2015 | term_end3 = 2 July 2015 | predecessor3 = ''Position established'' | successor3 = Huang Kuo-chang | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|2|1}} | birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic Progressive Party (since 2023) | other_party = New Power Party (2015–2019) <br /> Independent (2019–2023) | spouse = Doris Yeh | education = National Taipei University (BA) | module2 = {{infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{hlist|Blackened death metal|melodic death metal<ref>{{cite web |author=Deming, Mark |title=Chthonic biography |url=http://allmusic.com/artist/chthonic-p840660/biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2 August 2011 |archive-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413123826/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chthonic-p840660/biography |url-status=live }}</ref>|symphonic black metal<ref>{{cite web |author=Prato, Greg |title=''Seediq Bale'' review |url=http://allmusic.com/album/seediq-bale-r860549 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2 August 2011 |archive-date=14 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414195136/http://www.allmusic.com/album/seediq-bale-r860549 |url-status=live }}</ref>|folk metal|Oriental metal}} | label = Spinefarm (Universal Music) | instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|erhu}} | current_member_of = Chthonic }} }} {{Infobox Chinese | t = 林昶佐 | p = Lín Chǎngzuǒ | bpmf = ㄌㄧㄣˊㄔㄤˇㄗㄨㄛˇ | y = Làhm Chóng-jo | j = Lam<sup>4</sup> Cong<sup>2</sup>-zo<sup>3</sup> | poj = Lîm Chhióng-chò | tl = Lîm Tshióng-tsò }}

'''Lim Tshiong-tso''' ({{lang-zh|t=林昶佐|p=Lín Chǎngzuǒ}}; Tâi-lô: ''Lîm Tshióng-tsò''; born 1 February 1976), known also by his English name '''Freddy''', is a Taiwanese politician and musician, currently serving as the Ambassador of Taiwan to Finland since 2025. He is the lead vocalist of the Taiwanese heavy-metal band Chthonic and the lead vocalist of the band {{Interlanguage link|Metal Clone X|zh|3=鐵色克隆X}} started by him and American guitarist Marty Friedman.

Lim served as chair of Amnesty International Taiwan from 2010 to 2014. He was one of the founding leaders of the New Power Party (NPP) in Taiwan and represented the party in the Legislative Yuan until 2019. Lim won a second legislative term as an independent in 2020.

== Early life and music career == Lim was an ardent supporter of Chinese unification as a student, because he was taught from China-centric textbooks in middle school and high school.<ref name="ttgerberlin" /> A diagnosis of anxiety in middle school made him ineligible for military duty.<ref name=yam2015082523>{{cite news|title=時代力量參選人被爆逃兵役 網友酸沒盡義務不敢投|url=http://history.n.yam.com/yam/politics/20150825/20150825237228.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122161758/http://history.n.yam.com/yam/politics/20150825/20150825237228.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2015|language=zh|access-date=22 November 2015|work=Apple Daily|via=Yam News|date=25 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=ltn1425751>{{cite news|title=Freddy因焦慮受關注 柯P這樣說...|url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1425751|access-date=27 August 2015|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=27 August 2015|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212051517/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1425751|url-status=live}}</ref> Lim formed Chthonic in 1995, during his second year of university, when he began identifying more strongly with his Taiwanese identity.<ref name="ttgerberlin">{{cite news|last1=Gerber|first1=Abraham|title=INTERVIEW: Metal band singer Freddy Lim talks about politics|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/11/17/2003632665|access-date=17 November 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=17 November 2015}}</ref>

Often known simply as Freddy in Taiwan,<ref name=taipeitimes0000084340>{{cite news|last1=Frazier|first1=David|title=Music industry prepares to pat itself on the back|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2001/05/04/0000084340|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=4 May 2001|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418180527/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2001/05/04/0000084340|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taipeitimes2003100385>{{cite news|first1=Max|last1=Woodworth|title=Say it loud: 'Up yours China'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/02/27/2003100385|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=27 February 2004|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418180054/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/02/27/2003100385|url-status=live}}</ref> Lim chose to name himself after Freddy Krueger.<ref name=20010622taipeitimes>{{cite news|last1=Frazier|first1=David|title=Monsters of rock loom over Taipei|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2001/06/22/91067/1|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=22 June 2001|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418185500/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2001/06/22/91067/1|url-status=live}}</ref> On stage, Lim is known as "Left Face of Maradou" and wore corpse paint portraying the Ba-Jia-Jiang in performances until 2011, when the band ended their use of corpse paint.<ref name=independent6823981>{{cite news|last1=Sherwin|first1=Adam|title=Freddy Lim: Meet Taiwan's new rock'n'roll lawmaker|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/freddy-lim-meet-taiwan-s-new-rock-n-roll-lawmaker-a6823981.html|access-date=9 April 2016|work=The Independent|date=20 January 2016|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914072740/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/freddy-lim-meet-taiwan-s-new-rock-n-roll-lawmaker-a6823981.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=20110909guitarworld>{{cite news|last1=Bansal|first1=Andrew|title=Interview: Chthonic Bassist Doris Yeh Discusses New Album and Scary Touring Experiences|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-chthonic-bassist-doris-yeh-discusses-new-album-and-scary-touring-experiences|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Guitar World|date=9 September 2011|archive-date=21 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421000155/http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-chthonic-bassist-doris-yeh-discusses-new-album-and-scary-touring-experiences|url-status=live}}</ref>

With fellow Chthonic member and wife Doris Yeh,<ref name=taipeitimes2003448410>{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Eric|title=Shooting for the stars|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2009/07/11/2003448410|access-date=23 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=11 July 2009|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424103302/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2009/07/11/2003448410|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taipeitimes2003206068>{{cite news|last1=Woodworth|first1=Max|title=Rock 'n' roll pow-wow|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/10/08/2003206068|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 October 2004|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418082041/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/10/08/2003206068|url-status=live}}</ref> Lim started the Taiwan Rock Alliance, and as co-founder of The Wall, helped organize two music festivals, Formoz and Megaport.<ref name=taipeitimes2003181067>{{cite news|last1=Quartly|first1=Jules|title=When is dance music not electronica?|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/07/30/2003181067|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=30 July 2004|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418082857/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/07/30/2003181067|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taipeitimes2003178477>{{cite news|last1=Woodworth|first1=Max|title=Michelle Shocked set to rock Formoz|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/07/10/2003178477|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=10 July 2004|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418103828/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/07/10/2003178477|url-status=live}}</ref> Lim's stake in The Wall was bought out in 2012, and amid the resulting dispute, both festivals were cancelled in 2014.<ref name=taipeitimes2003581996>{{cite news|last1=Frazier|first1=David|title=Live Wire: Lunar New Year line up|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2014/01/24/2003581996|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=24 January 2014|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418095621/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2014/01/24/2003581996|url-status=live}}</ref> They returned in the next year, organized by Lim's Taiwan Rock Alliance.<ref name=taipeitimes2003613953>{{cite news|last1=Frazier|first1=David|title=Live Wire: Battling music festivals: Megaport vs T-Fest|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2015/03/20/2003613953|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=20 March 2015|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418144003/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2015/03/20/2003613953|url-status=live}}</ref> The Taiwan Rock Alliance has also put on a separate concert since 2000. Originally named Say No to China, the concert occurs some time around the anniversary of the February 28 incident.<ref name=taipeitimes2003350448>{{cite news|last1=Brownlow|first1=Ron|title=Tune in, turn on, tell the truth|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2007/02/28/2003350448/1|access-date=9 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=28 February 2007|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418081005/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2007/02/28/2003350448/1|url-status=live}}</ref> It then used the name Say Yes to Taiwan until 2007, when it was renamed again to Spirit of Taiwan.<ref name=taipeitimes2003403145>{{cite news|last1=Brownlow|first1=Ron|title=Rock talks|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/02/27/2003403145|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=27 February 2008|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418202111/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/02/27/2003403145|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lim was elected to lead Amnesty International Taiwan in 2010 and stepped down in 2014.<ref name=taiwannews2869355>{{cite news|last1=Liao|first1=George|title=NPP's Freddy Lim declares election victory|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/2869355|access-date=3 May 2017|work=Taiwan News|date=16 January 2016|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105162105/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/2869355|url-status=live}}</ref>

Chthonic was billed to play on the second day of the 2018 On the Pulse of Music Festival, but the performance had to be cancelled because Hong Kong Immigration Department refused to grant Lim a visa. Although the Immigration Department says it does not comment on individual cases, the rejection letter was published by the group's local sponsor, Goomusic. In the letter, officials stated that a person seeking to enter Hong Kong for employment "should, amongst other things, possess a special skill, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR", and that the immigration Department was not satisfied that Lim met the criteria.<ref name=ejinsight20181228>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2179415/why-hong-kong-rejected-taiwanese-singer-freddy-lims-visa|title=Why Hong Kong rejected Taiwanese singer's visa application|date=24 December 2018|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914072742/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2179415/why-hong-kong-rejected-taiwanese-singer-freddy-lims-visa|url-status=live}}</ref> Commentator Stephen Vines questioned the black box operation of an unaccountable bureaucracy, saying it was "no wonder this sort of nonsense was not intended to be made public, otherwise questions might well be asked about whether the newfound musical expertise of the bureaucrats was going to apply to all the very large number of other musicians playing gigs in Hong Kong".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ejinsight.com/eji/article/id/2025200/20181228-how-the-government-works-in-the-dark|title=How the government works in the dark EJINSIGHT – ejinsight.com|website=EJINSIGHT|access-date=17 July 2021|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717093818/https://www.ejinsight.com/eji/article/id/2025200/20181228-how-the-government-works-in-the-dark|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, he started an English podcast with Taiwanese journalist Emily Y. Wu called Metalhead Politics to direct international attention to Taiwan's political issues.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sayce|first=Rob|date=2020-08-17|title='We want a fairer society': Freddy Lim, Taiwan's metalhead MP|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/17/we-want-a-fairer-society-freddy-lim-taiwans-metalhead-mp|access-date=2021-11-09|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

== Entry into politics == In January 2015, Lim founded the New Power Party.<ref name=taipeitimes2003621612>{{cite news|last1=Su|first1=Fang-ho|last2=Chen|first2=Wei-han|title=INTERVIEW: Freddy Lim unfolds New Power Party platform|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/26/2003621612|access-date=17 November 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=26 June 2015|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118171131/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/26/2003621612|url-status=live}}</ref> The next month Lim declared his candidacy for the 2016 elections, aiming to contest the Daan District legislative seat held by Kuomintang incumbent Chiang Nai-shin.<ref name=taipeitimes2003612069>{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Wei-han|title=Metal singer to run for legislator|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/02/23/2003612069|access-date=18 November 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=23 February 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119044553/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/02/23/2003612069|url-status=live}}</ref> A few weeks later, Lim ceded the race to Social Democratic Party candidate {{ill|Fan Yun (politician)|lt=Fan Yun|zh|范雲 (臺灣)}},<ref name=taipeitimes2003613748>{{cite news|last1=Wen|first1=Lii|title=Freddy Lim withdraws from Daan poll|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/17/2003613748|access-date=18 November 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=17 March 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119012240/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/17/2003613748|url-status=live}}</ref> choosing instead to run against incumbent Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang in the Zhongzheng–Wanhua constituency.<ref name=taipeitimes2003613981>{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Lok-sin|title=Freddy Lim to run in Wanhua-Zhongzheng|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/20/2003613981|access-date=17 November 2015|work=Taipei Times|date=20 March 2015}}</ref> The Democratic Progressive Party did not nominate candidates in the constituency, choosing to support Lim,<ref name=taipeitimes2003634468>{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Lok-sin|title=DPP approves list of candidates outside the party to support|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/12/10/2003634468|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=10 December 2015|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405093308/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/12/10/2003634468|url-status=live}}</ref> who defeated Lin in the elections held on 16 January 2016.<ref name=taipeitimes2003637386>{{cite news|last1=Hsiao|first1=Alison|title=ELECTIONS: DPP secures absolute majority in Legislative Yuan|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/17/2003637386|access-date=17 January 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=17 January 2016|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085657/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/17/2003637386|url-status=live}}</ref> Lim was assigned to the {{ill|Foreign and National Defense Committee|zh|立法院外交及國防委員會}} (FNDC) after taking office.<ref name=taipeitimes2003640027>{{cite news|last1=Gerber|first1=Abraham|title=Rules on committee members selection irk NPP lawmakers|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/23/2003640027|access-date=23 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=23 February 2016|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223093933/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/23/2003640027|url-status=live}}</ref> In October, Lim announced the formation of a Tibet caucus in the Legislative Yuan, with himself as caucus leader.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Chun-hua|last2=Hsu|first2=Elizabeth|title=Tibet caucus established in Taiwan's Legislature|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201610070012.aspx|access-date=8 October 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=7 October 2016|archive-date=8 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008170635/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201610070012.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taipeitimes2003656730>{{cite news|last1=Gerber|first1=Abraham|title=Lawmakers establish Tibet group|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/10/08/2003656730|access-date=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 October 2016|archive-date=8 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008171509/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/10/08/2003656730|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" |+ Taipei City Constituency 5 in the 2016 Legislative Yuan election |- ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2| Candidate ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2| Party ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"| Votes ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2| Percentage |- | style="text-align:left;" | '''Freddy Lim''' | '''林昶佐''' | style="background-color:{{party color|New Power Party}}"| | style="text-align:left;" | '''New Power Party''' | style="text-align:right;" | '''82,650''' | style="text-align:right;" | '''49.52%''' | {{Percentage bar|49.52||FBBE01}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | Lin Yu-fang | 林郁方 | style="background-color:{{party color|Kuomintang}}"| | style="text-align:left;" | Kuomintang | style="text-align:right;" | 76,079 | style="text-align:right;" | 45.58% | {{Percentage bar|45.58||000099}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | You Jui-min | 尤瑞敏 | style="background-color:#73BF00"| | style="text-align:left;" | Trees Party | style="text-align:right;" | 4,506 | style="text-align:right;" | 2.69% | {{Percentage bar|2.69||73BF00}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | Kung Wei-lun | 龔偉綸 | style="background-color:black"| | style="text-align:left;" | Independent | style="text-align:right;" | 1,710 | style="text-align:right;" | 1.02% | {{Percentage bar|1.02||000000}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | Li Chia-hsin | 李家幸 | style="background-color:#FE6407"| | style="text-align:left;" | {{ill|Taiwan Independence Party (2015)|zh|台灣獨立黨|lt=Taiwan Independence Party}} | style="text-align:right;" | 885 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.53% | {{Percentage bar|0.53||FE6407}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | Huang Fu-liao | 黃福卿 | style="background-color:black"| | style="text-align:left;" | Independent | style="text-align:right;" | 587 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.35% | {{Percentage bar|0.35||000000}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | Hung Hsien-cheng | 洪顯政 | style="background-color:red"| | style="text-align:left;" | Constitutional Conventions of Taiwan | style="text-align:right;" | 478 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.28% | {{Percentage bar|0.28||FF0000}} |- |colspan=2|<small>[http://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20160101T1A2&qryType=ctks Source] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410174902/https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20160101T1A2&qryType=ctks |date=10 April 2021 }}</small> |colspan="2" style="text-align:right;" |'''Total''' | style="text-align:right;" |166,895 | style="text-align:right;" |'''100%''' | |}

On 3 October 2018 during the FNDC session, Lim proposed to re-examine the 1987 Lieyu massacre files in the military archive to render a formal apology to the victims' families through the Vietnamese Representative Office,<ref name="Wudao">{{Cite news |url=https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?SerialNo=75977 |title=【19屍20命】浯島文學首獎探討「三七事件」小金門的殺戮時代 |trans-title=Top Prize of the Wudao Literacy Award for the Research on March 7 Incident, the Killing Era in Lesser Kinmen |date=23 November 2019 |access-date=27 December 2021 |newspaper=Up Media |language=zh-TW |location=Kinmen |archive-date=28 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228032126/https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?SerialNo=75977 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guan">{{cite web|author=Guan Ren-jian|title=國軍屠殺越南難民的三七事件|trans-title=ROC Army Massacre Vietnamese Refugees in March Incident|url=http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/kuan0416/post/1304293327|publisher=PChome News|date=7 March 2008|access-date=27 December 2021|language=zh-TW|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908002445/http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/kuan0416/post/1304293327|url-status=live}}</ref> but Minister of National Defence, General Yen Teh-fa disagreed, claiming that troops followed the standard operating procedure in effect during martial law, and have been court-martialed; later the Ministry of National Defense issued a written response stating that the case "could not be processed further, as it is too difficult to identify the deceased after so much time has passed," which serve as the sole statement of the ROC government for the massacre in 31 years after martial law was lifted in 1987.<ref name="IVOD">{{Cite web |title=會議隨選 |url=https://ivod.ly.gov.tw/Play/VOD/108535/300K |author=外交及國防委員會 |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=27 December 2021 |publisher=立法院議事轉播IVOD網路多媒體隨選視訊系統 |trans-title=Proceedings Broadcast of the Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan, IVOD Network Multimedia Video System |location=Taipei |language=zh-tw |archive-date=6 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106111257/https://ivod.ly.gov.tw/Play/VOD/108535/300K |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ICI">{{Cite web |title=267立法院公報第107卷第81期委員會紀錄立法院第9屆第6會期外交及國防委員會第3次全體委員會議紀錄 |trans-title=Foreign and National Defense Committee Records No. 3, Legislative Yuan Gazette, Vol. 107, No. 81, Legislative Yuan Term 9, Session 6 |url=https://lci.ly.gov.tw/LyLCEW/communique1/final/pdf//107/81/LCIDC01_1078101_00006.pdf |author=林昶佐委員、嚴德發部長 |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=27 December 2021 |publisher=立法院公報第107卷第81期 |language=zh-tw |location=Taipei |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224090743/https://lci.ly.gov.tw/LyLCEW/communique1/final/pdf//107/81/LCIDC01_1078101_00006.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In August 2019, Lim announced that he would leave the New Power Party to support Tsai Ing-wen in the 2020 Taiwan presidential election. Lim also stated that he would run for legislative reelection as a political independent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maxon |first1=Ann |title=Lim to leave NPP, back Tsai re-election bid |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/08/02/2003719765 |access-date=2 August 2019 |work=Taipei Times |date=2 August 2019 |archive-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801212352/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/08/02/2003719765 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Chun-hua |last2=Yu |first2=Hsiao-han |last3=Liu |first3=Kuan-ting |last4=Chung |first4=Yu-chen |title=NPP legislator quits party to run as independent |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201908010014.aspx |access-date=1 August 2019 |agency=Central News Agency |date=1 August 2019}}</ref> He won reelection in January 2020, defeating Lin Yu-fang for a second time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=2020 Elections: DPP maintains its legislative majority |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/01/12/2003729108 |access-date=12 January 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 January 2020}}</ref>

The Central Election Commission announced on 10 August 2021 that a petition to recall Lim had gathered enough support, one percent of the eligible electorate in his constituency, to pass the first stage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Yu-hsuan |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |title=Petition to recall lawmaker Freddy Lim passes first stage |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202108100018 |access-date=13 August 2021 |agency=Central News Agency |date=10 August 2021 |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914072744/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202108100018 |url-status=live }} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Petition against Lim to proceed to second stage |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/14/2003762583 |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=14 August 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814013439/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/14/2003762583 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 December 2021, the CEC announced that the recall movement against Lim garnered 27,362 valid signatures, more than the ten percent threshold required in the second stage to trigger a recall election. {{ill|lt=Lim's recall election|2022 Taipei City Constituency V recall election|zh|2022年臺北市第五選舉區立法委員林昶佐罷免案}} was held on 9 January 2022, the same day as the replacement vote for Taichung's 2nd legislative district, where Chen Po-wei {{ill|2021 Taichung City Constituency II recall election|lt=lost a recall vote|zh|2021年臺中市第二選舉區立法委員陳柏惟罷免案}} in October 2021.<ref name="twnnwsrecall">{{cite news |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan sets Jan. 9 for recall vote of rock star legislator |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4364354 |access-date=3 December 2021 |agency=Taiwan News |date=3 December 2021 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127062405/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4364354 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lai |first1=Yu-chen |last2=Wang |first2=Yang-yu |last3=Liu |first3=Kay |title=Date set for recall vote of lawmaker Freddy Lim |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202112030018 |access-date=4 December 2021 |agency=Central News Agency |date=3 December 2021 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627234032/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202112030018 |url-status=live }} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Lim recall vote scheduled for January 9 |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/12/04/2003768993 |access-date=4 December 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=4 December 2021 }}</ref> Supporters of the recall effort have criticized Lim for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic in his district.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Erin |title=Taiwan Rock Star Politician Faces Recall Vote |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-rock-star-politician-faces-recall-vote/6386631.html |access-date=8 January 2022 |agency=Voice of America |date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418010945/https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-rock-star-politician-faces-recall-vote/6386631.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A total of 218 polling stations were open during the recall vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |title=Independent Legislator Freddy Lim survives recall vote |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202201090008 |access-date=9 January 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=9 January 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628122538/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202201090008 |url-status=live }} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Lim squeaks through recall vote |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/01/10/2003771078 |access-date=10 January 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=10 January 2022 |archive-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109190623/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/01/10/2003771078 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although votes to recall Lim outnumbered votes against Lim's recall, low turnout meant that the result was not binding.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |title=Independent Legislator Freddy Lim survives recall vote (update) |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202201090012 |access-date=9 January 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=9 January 2022 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926195919/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202201090012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lim announced in March 2023 that he did not plan to contest the 2024 Taiwanese legislative election,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Freddy Lim announces he will not run in 2024 Taiwan elections |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4838294 |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=Taiwan News |date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903083315/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4838294 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Independent lawmaker Freddy Lim announces he won’t run for reelection in 2024 |url=https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2023317W05EA |access-date=3 September 2023 |publisher=Formosa Television |date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903083307/https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2023317W05EA |url-status=live }}</ref> citing the need to care for an ill relative.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hetherington |first1=William |title=Freddy Lim to retire from politics, look after family |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/03/18/2003796315 |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=Taipei Times |date=18 March 2023 |archive-date=21 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921090557/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/03/18/2003796315 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 27 November 2023 he announced that he would join the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), at the urging of Vice President and DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 November 2023 |title=Independent lawmaker Freddy Lim applies to join DPP |agency=Central News Agency |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202311270019 |access-date=27 November 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105185313/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202311270019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2025, Lim was named the Taiwanese representative to Finland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Chin-hsuan |last2=Garcia |first2=Sam |title=Minister confirms Freddy Lim's appointment |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/20/2003837191 |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=Taipei Times |date=20 May 2025 |archive-date=20 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520055151/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/20/2003837191 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Yao-ju |last2=Yeh |first2=Su-ping |last3=Huang |first3=Frances |title=Rock star-turned-politician named Taiwan's representative to Finland |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202505190024 |access-date=19 May 2025 |agency=Central News Agency |date=19 May 2025}}</ref>

== Political stances == Lim favors the abolition of capital punishment,<ref name=chinapost462017>{{cite news|last1=Chou|first1=Christine|title=Legislator pushes for harsher death penalty law|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2016/03/29/462017/Legislator-pushes.htm|access-date=10 April 2016|work=China Post|date=29 March 2016|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602104128/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2016/03/29/462017/Legislator-pushes.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and supports the legalization of same-sex marriage and marijuana use in Taiwan.<ref name=taipeitimes2003637104>{{cite news|last1=Hsiao|first1=Alison|title=ELECTIONS: KMT challenges Tsai over death penalty|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/13/2003637104|access-date=10 April 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=13 January 2016|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418114613/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/13/2003637104|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=20160106thediplomat>{{cite news|last1=van der Horst|first1=Linda|title=The Rise of Taiwan's 'Third Force'|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/the-rise-of-taiwans-third-force/|access-date=10 April 2016|work=The Diplomat|date=6 January 2016|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901071240/https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/the-rise-of-taiwans-third-force/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Freddy Lim}} *{{facebook}} *{{discogs artist|863883|Freddy Lim (Chthonic)}} *{{discogs artist|4902911|Freddy Lim (Metal Clone X)}} *{{allMusic|artist/freddy-lim-mn0001982878}} *[https://open.spotify.com/show/1XA1WDgsCjYgLpgnKsXyu9 Metalhead Politics] on Spotify

{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=New office}} {{s-ttl|title= Captain of New Power Party|years=25 January 2015 – 2 July 2015}} {{s-aft|after=Huang Kuo-chang}} {{s-end}}

{{9th Legislative Yuan members}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lim, Freddy}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Taipei Members of the Legislative Yuan Category:Taiwanese male singer-songwriters Category:Taiwanese singer-songwriters Category:Taiwan independence activists Category:Musicians from Taipei Category:Erhu players Category:Black metal musicians Category:Taiwanese lyricists Category:National Taipei University alumni Category:New Power Party Members of the Legislative Yuan Category:Amnesty International people Category:Members of the 9th Legislative Yuan Category:Taiwanese political party founders Category:Music festival founders Category:New Power Party chairpersons Category:Taiwanese human rights activists Category:20th-century Taiwanese male singers Category:21st-century Taiwanese male singers Category:Members of the 10th Legislative Yuan Category:Taiwanese heavy metal musicians Category:Musician-politicians