Outrage after KMT’s Ko Chih-en gives incumbent punny 87% score

Outrage after KMT’s Ko Chih-en gives incumbent punny 87% score

2026-10-29

A pun is at the center of a fresh controversy in the Kaohsiung mayoral race. KMT candidate Ko Chih-en was asked in a radio show on Wednesday what mark she would give current mayor Chen Chi-mai. Joking that she was a strict teacher that wouldn’t hand out a 90% easily, she ended up settling for 87%. That raised an uproar within the DPP camp, as 87 is commonly used as a pun for “idiot” online due to its similar pronunciation in Taigi. Let’s hear more.

Lai Jui-lung
Kaohsiung Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
A lot of people agree that assigning the number 87 to the mayor is disrespectful. He’s been working night and day for Kaohsiung, and that deserves high praise from everyone.

Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung Mayor
When it comes to giving scores to politicians, the votes are what counts. Ko Chih-en and me are taking the same exam. In her case, she’s retaking it after her first try four years ago. In the end, the electorate decides who to pick with their votes.

Sun Yu-lin
Ko Chih-en’s Campaign Spokesperson
The passing grade for Master’s students is 70%. And 90% is a really high grade for Professor Ko Chih-en. As for Chen Chi-mai’s comments about sitting the exam again, we are grateful for his encouragement.

And a mock test for the two candidates is just around the corner, as the debate for the Kaohsiung mayoral race is scheduled for Friday evening. The DPP says his voice has gone hoarse recently due to all the practicing he’s been doing. He also let on that he plans to ask Ko why she voted in favor of a government expenditure act that he says was disadvantageous to Kaohsiung. Meanwhile, Ko did not have any public events on Wednesday, presumably because she was busy practicing with her team.

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