Kaohsiung’s weekend with BLACKPINK showed what the city can achieve: world-class logistics, near-flawless crowd control, and a sense of southern pride.

This “deliberate absence” was no accident. Rather, it reflects a consistent policy choice by Singapore. For a country with an ethnic Chinese majority but a deeply diverse society, Singapore has always drawn a strict line between personal ties of blood and culture, and national political loyalty and policy orientation. Political leaders’ distance from their ancestral hometowns is an important symbol: internally, it strengthens national cohesion; externally, it demonstrates independence.

Some experts note that should Lin choose to run as an independent, the DPP vote will almost certainly be split, leading to a very real chance of a KMT victory.

Kaohsiung City Councilor Huang Wen-yi (黃文益) says the district’s street character makes it suitable for outdoor seating and night-time activity. He suggested allowing shops to place tables and chairs on sidewalks, provided pedestrian access and public safety are not affected.