Lin studied library science at National Taiwan University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.

[2] Lin served his first two full terms in the Legislative Yuan, representing Penghu County, as a member of the Kuomintang.

[11][12] In November 2010, Lin succeeded Kao Chin Su-mei as convenor of the legislature's Internal Administration Committee.

"[17] In 2009, Lin said that his constituents had never discussed opposition to the building of casinos with him, blaming disapproval of the initiative on the Democratic Progressive Party and people from the main island of Taiwan.

[19][20] In December 2010, Lin proposed an amendment to the Offshore Islands Development Act mandating that the government should provide a living stipend, along with funds for transportation so that students native to Taiwan's outlying islands could return home at the end of the school year.