Freddy Lim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lim Tshiong-tso MLY
林昶佐
Official portrait, 2020
5th Ambassador of Taiwan to Finland
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 July 2025
President	Lai Ching-te
Preceded by	Janet Chang
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office 1 February 2016 – 31 January 2024
Preceded by	Lin Yu-fang
Succeeded by	Wu Pei-yi
Constituency	Taipei City V
1st Leader of the New Power Party
In office 25 January 2015 – 2 July 2015
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Huang Kuo-chang
Personal details
Born	(1976-02-01) 1 February 1976 (age 49) Taipei, Taiwan
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party (since 2023)
Other political affiliations	New Power Party (2015–2019) Independent (2019–2023)
Spouse	Doris Yeh
Education	National Taipei University (BA)
Musical career
Genres	Blackened death metal melodic death metal symphonic black metal folk metal Oriental metal
Instruments	Vocals erhu
Labels	Spinefarm (Universal Music)

Lim Tshiong-tso (born February 1, 1976), also known by his English name Freddy, is a Taiwanese politician, musician, and diplomat. He is famous for being the lead singer of the Taiwanese heavy-metal band Chthonic. He also sings for the band Metal Clone X, which he started with American guitarist Marty Friedman.

Besides his music, Lim has been very active in public service. He was the head of Amnesty International Taiwan from 2010 to 2014. He helped start the New Power Party (NPP) and served in Taiwan's government, called the Legislative Yuan, from 2016 to 2024. In 2025, he became Taiwan's representative to Finland.

Music and Early Life

When Lim was a student, the textbooks he used focused on China, which made him a strong supporter of Chinese unification. He was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in middle school, which meant he did not have to do military service.

In 1995, during his second year of university, Lim started to feel a stronger connection to his Taiwanese identity. This led him to form the heavy metal band Chthonic.

Stage Persona and Music Festivals

In Taiwan, many people know him simply as Freddy. He chose this name after the horror movie character Freddy Krueger. On stage, Lim used to be known as "Left Face of Maradou." Until 2011, he wore special face paint called corpse paint that was inspired by traditional Taiwanese figures.

Lim and his wife, Doris Yeh, who is also in Chthonic, started the Taiwan Rock Alliance. They helped organize two big music events: the Formoz and Megaport festivals. These festivals have become important parts of Taiwan's music scene.

International Performances

In 2018, Chthonic was scheduled to play at a music festival in Hong Kong. However, the show was canceled because the Hong Kong Immigration Department did not give Lim a visa to enter. Officials said that Lim did not have a "special skill, knowledge or experience" that was needed in Hong Kong. This decision was questioned by many people.

In 2020, Lim started an English podcast called Metalhead Politics with journalist Emily Y. Wu. The podcast talks about Taiwan's political issues to an international audience.

Political Career

In January 2015, Lim founded the New Power Party. He decided to run for a seat in the Legislative Yuan, which is like Taiwan's parliament. He ran in the Zhongzheng-Wanhua area of Taipei. The Democratic Progressive Party, another major party, supported him by not putting up their own candidate.

On January 16, 2016, Lim won the election, defeating the lawmaker who was in office at the time. After taking office, he joined the Foreign and National Defense Committee. He also started a group in the legislature to support Tibet.

Second Term and Recall Election

In August 2019, Lim left the New Power Party. He announced he would run for re-election as an independent and support Tsai Ing-wen for president. In January 2020, he won his election again.

In 2021, a group of people started a petition to remove Lim from office, an event known as a recall. They were unhappy with his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recall election was held on January 9, 2022. More people voted to recall him than to keep him, but not enough people voted overall. Because of the low turnout, the result was not official, and Lim kept his job.

Joining the DPP and Diplomatic Role

In March 2023, Lim said he would not run for re-election in 2024. He explained that he needed to take care of a sick family member. Later that year, in November, he joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In May 2025, Lim was given a new role as Taiwan's representative to Finland, making him a diplomat.

Political Views

Lim has clear views on several important issues. He is against capital punishment, which means he does not support the death penalty. He also supports the rights of all people to marry, including same-sex marriage.

See also

In Spanish: Freddy Lim para niños