CHTHONIC's FREDDY LIM Appointed As Taiwan's Ambassador To Finland

Chthonic vocalist and longtime politician Freddy Lim has been appointed as Taiwan's next ambassador to Finland. Because if you're gonna be an ambassador to any Scandinavian country, you better be in a metal band. Seriously, Finland boasts over 80 metal bands per 100,000 people.

As for Lim, he served as Chair of Amnesty International Taiwan between 2010 and 2014, actively participating in global human rights initiatives and frequently interacting with counterparts from Finland, Sweden, and Germany at international conferences. From 2016 to 2024, he served two terms as a member of Taiwan’s legislature, becoming the first heavy metal musician in the world to enter a national parliament.

During his tenure, he pushed for legislation that made Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and advocated for stronger protections for indigenous rights. He also supported budgets to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and championed transitional justice, calling for the declassification of documents from Taiwan’s authoritarian past to ensure truth and justice in society.

Lim was a key figure in the legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, where he played an active role in parliamentary diplomacy. He spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark in 2022 and the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway in 2023, highlighting the universality of human rights and freedom, and garnering international support for Taiwan.

Lim states: "Beyond my musical ties, my long-standing commitment to human rights, progressive values, and the fight against authoritarianism are ideals that Taiwan and Finland deeply share. These are all areas where our future cooperation and exchange can grow stronger."

In the meantime, you can check out Chthonic's new single "Endless Aeons" below and new live EP MEGAPORTAL2425 here.