Will Yih Guang-yang's Scandal Affect Ko Chih-en's Campaign? Commentator Calls for Equal Treatment Compared to Lai Jui-long Case: KMT Could Have Led with 'Iron Fist Education'

With less than five months until the 2026 county and city mayoral elections, the controversy surrounding Yih Guang-yang, KMT Taoyuan council candidate and son of legislator Wan Mei-ling, continues to intensify. Yih has been accused of multiple misconducts including campus bullying, verbal humiliation, and high school gambling. Although Yih issued a public apology on July 6, the incident continues to escalate.

On August 8, media personality Lo Yu-chih took to Facebook urging "equal treatment and fairness," stating that the standards demanded of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Lai Jui-long—whose son was previously embroiled in a bullying scandal—should also apply to Yih Guang-yang. Lo further pointed out that Ko Chih-en, the KMT's Kaohsiung mayoral candidate who could have aggressively campaigned on the "iron fist education" platform, is now caught in a difficult position.

What controversies has Yih Guang-yang been involved in, and how has he responded?

Yih Guang-yang officially registered as a KMT Taoyuan council candidate on March 27. However, several netizens claiming to have attended the same school, class, or club as Yih have accused him of mocking peers' appearances and bullying during his school years. Social media has also circulated allegations of college entrance exam cheating, selling vape cartridges, and using privilege to complete his studies. These claims have not been legally verified and remain largely online accusations.

After months of controversy, Yih recently admitted to immature behavior during his youth, acknowledging that some of his actions did harm others. He confirmed involvement in a campus gambling incident and publicly apologized to the affected parties and society.

However, Yih emphasized that claims such as selling vape cartridges, joining gangs, and exam cheating are factually incorrect. He warned that if false accusations continue, he will pursue legal action to clarify the truth, urging the public to distinguish between admitted wrongdoings and unverified allegations.

"Lai Jui-long didn't withdraw—why should Yih?" Lo Yu-chih questioned, asserting that both candidates should hold press conferences and personally apologize to victims, as was expected of Lai. He sarcastically suggested that Yih's claim of "childhood mistakes" should be revised to "mistakes from childhood through adulthood." He added that Lai also attempted to downplay his son's incident, implying a twisted form of fairness.

Is Yih Guang-yang affecting the Kaohsiung race? Bullying issues put both parties on equal footing

Lo pointed out that the election now features bullying scandals in both northern Taoyuan and southern Kaohsiung, placing both parties on equal footing. This has left Ko Chih-en and the KMT, who could have led with a strong "iron fist education" message, struggling to respond effectively. Lo criticized that internal turmoil in Taoyuan has dragged down the Kaohsiung campaign, quipping, "In four years, when Wan Mei-ling runs for Taoyuan mayor, she might end up in Lai Jui-long's shoes!"

In conclusion, Lo questioned whether holding a press conference and personally apologizing to victims is really so difficult. If politicians cannot perform these basic acts of accountability, can they truly have the courage to challenge authority and fight for the people's interests? "Normal things become distorted when politics gets involved!"

More exclusive reports from Storm Media: · Lai Jui-long vs. Ko Chih-en: Who's Leading? Analyst Decodes 'Hidden Crushing Polls'—This Kaohsiung Number Decides the Winner · Is Kaohsiung Really Changing Hands? Ko Leads with Wang Jin-pyng's Continued Support—She Reveals Lai's Weakness: Explains Why Replacement Rumors Are Circulating · Is Raising Employer Pension Contributions to 9% Feasible? Latest Legal Reforms Impact Kaohsiung Race—Who Proposed It First, Ko or Lai?