Lai Ching-te's Aide Chen Zong-yan Resigns Over "Sexual Favors" Scandal

In February 2023, Chen Zong-yan, the newly appointed Executive Yuan spokesperson and a close aide to President Lai Ching-te since his Tainan administration, resigned in disgrace after being exposed by legislators and media. Reports revealed that during his tenure as Director of the Tainan Civil Affairs Bureau, Chen had repeatedly accepted sexual favors from a businessman known as "Bean" and utilized his official position to facilitate business favors. His leaked chat messages asking "Is Xiao Yun available?" became a national laughingstock. The scandal exposed a dark underbelly of corruption during the DPP's governance in Tainan.