In June 2020, the Kuomintang selected Li as its candidate for the 2020 Kaohsiung mayoral by-election.[1][2] A number of party members considered the nomination process that led to Li's selection chaotic, and raised the potential for vote splitting following Wu Yi-jheng's entry into the race.[5] On 22 July 2020, NSYSU stated that it had begun investigating allegations [zh] that Li had plagiarized her master's degree thesis.[6][7] On 23 July, Li apologized for the controversy and announced that she was "renouncing" her master's degree.[8][9] NSYSU responded that the Degree Conferral Act (學位授予法) had no guidelines for allowing alumni to renounce their degrees and it would continue the investigation.[9][10] The Kuomintang stated on 25 July that it would continue to support Li's candidacy.[11]
On 15 August 2020, Li conceded the by-election to Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Chi-mai, congratulated him on his victory, and expressed further commitment to her post as councilor.[12]
On 19 August 2020, NSYSU confirmed that Li Mei-jhen's degree thesis involved plagiarism, and an academic ethics committee unanimously voted to revoke her degree.[13] Li's degree was formally revoked on 13 October 2020.[14]
On 20 August 2024. Li gained her masters degree in cosmetics and makeup from Cheng Shiu University, where she also gained her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.[15]
^陳朝福 (1 August 2020). "輸陳其邁逾40萬票 李眉蓁：有遺憾沒委屈" (in Chinese). Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
