Ko Chih-en's advisory group faces scandal over drunk driving, sexual harassment allegations

The municipal advisory group for Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en has become a focal point of controversy, with the opposing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) highlighting problematic backgrounds of its members. The latest revelations include a retired associate professor with multiple drunk driving offenses and another professor facing past sexual harassment allegations.

The first controversy emerged when a retired associate professor, identified as Mr. Feng, was found to be a repeat offender for drunk driving. Records show Feng was caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.894 mg/L in March 2014 and was later sentenced to four months in prison after his probation was revoked for a subsequent drunk driving incident within months. Ko's campaign office stated that Feng has since withdrawn from the advisory group, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards drunk and drugged driving.

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Regarding drunk and drugged driving, I have always held a zero-tolerance attitude, with absolutely no room for compromise.

Adding to the pressure, the DPP on Tuesday revealed that a Professor Yeh, also on Ko's advisory list, had been involved in sexual harassment rumors. Yeh reportedly disclosed the allegations himself during a university presidential selection process last year, denying any wrongdoing. Ko's campaign responded by stating that Yeh's appointment was based on his professional policy expertise, not a background check, and that the allegations were mere rumors which Yeh had already denied.

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The core consideration for appointing municipal advisors was professional policy capabilities, not political ideological screening or background checks.

DPP candidates criticized Ko's vetting process, questioning her judgment and ability to govern Kaohsiung. They pointed to the drunk driving incident and the sexual harassment allegations as evidence of poor screening. "Ko Chih-en and the KMT should spend less money on these deceptive tactics and more effort on Kaohsiung," stated DPP candidate Tsai Ping-tsung, referencing a previous controversy involving Ko's campaign literature.

Civic groups also weighed in, with "WeCare Kaohsiung" questioning why Ko would appoint someone with a history of drunk driving if she advocates for stricter penalties. The group argued that the advisory group represents Ko's potential governing team and serves as a direct measure of her standards for selecting personnel. The repeated vetting failures suggest a significant lapse in her ability to properly screen candidates.

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Ko Chih-en and the KMT should spend less money on these deceptive tactics and more effort on Kaohsiung.