By RK Shih / Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Democratic Progressive Party city council primary candidate Huang Chen-lin (黃偵琳) announced Tuesday that she will withdraw from the 2026 Kaohsiung City Council primary in the Zuoying (左營) and Nanzih (楠梓) constituencies, apologizing for a past drunk driving conviction that triggered public backlash.
Huang said in a Facebook statement issued on Feb. 24 that she would “face the mistake sincerely and take responsibility,” adding that she was deeply sorry for causing social controversy and disappointing supporters. Her decision came one day after she initially indicated she would not exit the race, a stance that drew widespread criticism online and from political observers.
Court records cited in earlier reports showed Huang had been convicted of drunk driving in a case dating to late January 2025, when she rode a scooter after drinking, collided with another person, and caused injuries. She registered a blood alcohol level of 0.33 mg/L and was sentenced to two months in prison, commutable to a fine, along with an additional fine of NT$5,000. The case resurfaced shortly before the party’s primary scheduled for early March.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) previously issued a stern response to the controversy, stating that society broadly agrees that drunk driving is unacceptable and that he personally could not accept such behavior. He added that the party’s central leadership and local branch would handle the matter in line with public expectations.
Huang’s withdrawal also drew attention to internal dynamics within the party’s competitive Zuoying and Nanzih primary. Some online commentators criticized perceived initial silence from political allies, including legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆), though no official statement from Lai was immediately available at the time of her announcement.
In her statement, Huang said, “If you do something wrong, you should bravely admit it and sincerely repent,” calling her actions a “serious wrong example.” She reiterated her apology to supporters and the public, saying she would reflect deeply on her conduct.
The DPP Kaohsiung primary is scheduled to take place from March 2 to March 8, with multiple candidates competing for nomination in what is expected to be a closely watched local race ahead of the 2026 local elections.
