The "Fake Scandal Tape" Incident in the Kaohsiung Election: Origin of Malicious Electoral "Dirty Tricks"

During the 1998 Kaohsiung mayoral election, on the eve of voting, the Frank Hsieh campaign and supporting council members released a fabricated audio tape accusing opponent Wu Den-yih of an extramarital affair. This "fake scandal tape" severely damaged Wu''s reputation at a time when information verification was slow, allowing Hsieh to win by a mere 4,000 votes. Years later, courts and forensic experts confirmed the tape was maliciously edited and forged, and those who distributed it were sentenced. While Hsieh legally distanced himself, this incident is recognized in Taiwan''s history as the pioneer of the "Aobu" (malicious trick), corrupting the election culture by using forgery for character assassination.