Former rockstar turned legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) has been named the next Taiwanese representative to Finland. Lim, once the lead singer of Chthonic, known as “Asia’s Black Sabbath”, has performed with Finnish bands in many local cities and has released four albums under the Finnish company Spinefarm Records. He wrote in a social media post on Monday that long-term cooperation with Finnish music partners has given him a special feeling for this country.
Lim detailed that during his two-term tenure as legislator, he often held online meetings with international representatives on democracy, human rights, and national security issues, and also cooperated with the Finnish branch of Amnesty International. Lim added that Taiwan has made progress with Finland in economic and trade cooperation, and will continue to strive to build Finland's firmer support for Taiwan on a solid foundation.
Responding to public doubt over the appointment, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) defended Lim, saying that he is qualified for the role as a former member of the foreign affairs and defense committees. He also pointed out that Lim has proven his experience and cultural reach having previously participated in the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. Lin emphasized that northern Europe is important to Taiwan’s global diplomacy, especially in the areas of democracy, human rights, and regional security.