Kaohsiung: The Kaohsiung City Government Bureau of Cultural Affairs announced it will terminate its contract with screenwriter Tsai Kuen-lin following accusations of sexual harassment made by a female student attending a screenwriting course. Tsai was previously involved in the 2024 horror-comedy movie “Dead Talents Society.”
According to Focus Taiwan, the bureau has requested Tsai’s cooperation with an investigation being conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and has committed to respecting the outcome of this investigation. Tsai was not only the lead contractor but also the chief mentor for the “screenwriter practical connection project,” a program awarded under the Government Procurement Act.
Officials emphasized that the decision to cancel Tsai’s contract was made to maintain the project’s integrity. They highlighted the city’s zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and assured that the situation would be handled with strict adherence to relevant regulations.
The Department of Social Welfare indicated that the case is currently being evaluated by the city government’s sexual harassment prevention review committee. Should violations be confirmed, fines ranging from NT$10,000 (US$330) to NT$100,000 will be imposed for ordinary cases, while power-related offenses could incur fines between NT$60,000 and NT$600,000, as stipulated under the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act.
