TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Representative to Finland and heavy metal musician Freddy Lim (林昶佐) appeared on Finnish talk show “Efter Nio” on Monday, where he spoke about Taiwan’s “rebellious gene,” his personal experience under martial law, and his lifelong commitment to preserving Taiwanese identity.

In the interview, Lim recounted growing up during the Kuomintang regime’s White Terror era, when martial law and cultural repression shaped his early years. He described how the pro-China policies of the past government left lasting trauma, which later strengthened his resolve to defend democracy and promote native culture.

Lim spoke of Taiwan’s ability to survive under immense external pressure, particularly from China’s growing global influence. He described this resilience as rooted in a “rebellious gene,” saying that despite Beijing’s repression, Taiwan has continued to progress and even lead in areas like LGBTQ rights.

Lim shared a personal story about his father, once strongly opposed to same-sex marriage, coming around on the issue just two years before Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize it in 2019.

Reflecting on his childhood, Lim recalled the cultural erasure he experienced in elementary school, where a Mandarin-only policy distanced him from his grandmother, whose generation was not well-versed in Mandarin. Raised by his grandparents, Lim said he spoke fluent Taiwanese, but school policies pulled him away from his native language and cultural roots.

Lim also shared memories of helping his father secretly purchase banned books during the authoritarian era, using coded language at a local bookstore. Although he tried to read the books himself, he admitted the complex language was difficult to grasp at the time.

Lim said that turning 18 marked a political awakening, when he began to understand the extent of the repression he had experienced as a child. He expressed regret over how this upbringing had once turned him against older generations and his own cultural roots.

By the time Lim tried to reconcile with his grandmother, she had already lost much of her memory to Alzheimer’s disease. He described his guilt and anger as the emotional fuel behind his advocacy for democracy and native Taiwanese culture.

One of his first achievements as a legislator, he said, was helping to pass the Development of National Languages Act, which aims not only to preserve Taiwan’s many languages but also to create an environment where they can thrive. He praised Finland as a model, noting the country's success in embracing multiple perspectives and linguistic diversity.

When asked how his background in heavy metal has influenced his political life, Lim said the energy and intensity of live performance shaped his approach to public service. He credited his energy to his experience on stage, where a performer must bring the same intensity to every show.

Lim said music also helped him understand the meaning of endings, with emotions reaching their finality as a song comes to a close. He added that he still writes songs occasionally to satisfy his need for self-expression.