Preceded by Tsai Ming-yao Role Politician Name Yu Yueh-ying | Nationality Republic of China Succeeded by Yu Cheng-hsien Children Yu Cheng-hsien | |
Born 2 September 1926
Takao Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan ( 1926-09-02 ) Political party Democratic Progressive Party Died May 26, 2014, Niaosong District, Taiwan Party Democratic Progressive Party | ||
Yu Chen Yueh-ying (Chinese: 余陳月瑛; pinyin: Yú Chén Yuèyīng; 2 September 1926 – 26 May 2014) was a Taiwanese politician, judge and matriarch of the Yu family, a political family who dominated politics in the former Kaohsiung County for more than thirty years. (Kaohsiung County was merged with Kaohsiung City on December 25, 2010, to form a special municipality, Kaohsiung). Her six children include former Interior Minister Yu Cheng-hsien, who headed the ministry from 2002 to 2004.
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Early life
Chen Yueh-ying was the youngest of eleven children born to factory owner Chen Tsai-hsing. She married Yu Jui-yen at the suggestion of a matchmaker. Yu Chen's father-in-law, Yu Teng-fa (余登發), served as the Commissioner of Kaohsiung County from 1960 until 1963.
Political career
In 1963, Yu Chen entered politics by running as a candidate for the Taiwan Provincial Council at the behest of Yu Teng-fa. She served on the Provincial Council for four terms.
In 1981, Yu Chen ran for Kaohsiung County magistrate, but lost by Tsai Ming-yao of the Kuomintang (KMT) by just over 3,000 votes. She was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1982. In 1985, Yu Chen ran for Kaohsiung County Commissioner again and defeated incumbent Commissioner Tsai Ming-yao in a rematch. She became the first female county commissioner in 1987, following the end of Martial law in Taiwan. Yu Chen served as County Commissioner for two-terms until 1993.
Her son, Yu Cheng-hsien, succeeded her as Kaohsiung County Commissioner for two consecutive, four year terms. He then served as Taiwan's Interior Minister from 2002 to 2004 as a member of Democratic Progressive Party.
Yu Chen was later named an adviser to President Chen Shui-bian.
Death
She died at Kaoshiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung on May 26, 2014, at the age of 87. Her funeral was held in the Yu family's hometown of Ciaotou District.