Kuo Kuo-wen (Chinese: 郭國文; pinyin: Guō Guówén; born 11 March 1967) or Robert Kuo is a Taiwanese politician. He has served as secretary-general of the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions and Taiwan Labor Front, as well as a member of the Tainan City Council. He was appointed deputy minister of labor in 2016, and left the position in 2017. He was elected to the Legislative Yuan in March 2019.
Robert Kuo Kuo Kuo-wen | |
|---|---|
郭國文 | |
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the Legislative Yuan | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Huang Wei-che |
| Constituency | Tainan II |
| Deputy Minister of Labor | |
| In office 20 May 2016 – 7 September 2017 | |
| Minister | See list |
| Preceded by | Hau Fong-ming |
| Succeeded by | Shih Keh-her |
| Tainan City Councillor | |
| In office 25 December 2010 – 19 May 2016 | |
| Constituency | Tainan IX |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 March 1967 Guanmiao, Tainan County, Taiwan |
| Nationality | Taiwan |
| Alma mater | National Taiwan University National Cheng Kung University |
Education
editKuo Kuo-wen, also known by the English name Robert Kuo,[1] was born on 11 March 1967.[2] He obtained his master's degree in law from National Taiwan University and doctoral degree in political economy from National Cheng Kung University.[3]
Activism
editKuo is involved with the labor movement in Taiwan, and was the secretary-general of the Taiwan Labor Front and the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions.[4][5]
Political career
editIn May 2016, he was appointed the deputy minister of labor,[6] and vacated his seat on the Tainan City Council to take the post.[7] In September 2017, he left his position at the labor ministry, citing personal reasons.[8] Considered a potential candidate for the 2020 legislative election,[9] Kuo instead contested a March 2019 legislative by-election in Tainan for the open seat of Huang Wei-cher, and defeated four other candidates.[10] Kuo won the election, though he finished less than three percent ahead of his closest challenger, Kuomintang candidate Hsieh Lung-chieh, in a district that has been considered a stronghold for the Democratic Progressive Party.[11][12] Kuo was sworn in as a member of the Legislative Yuan on 21 March 2019.[13][14] He won a full legislative term in 2020,[2][3] facing Kuomintang candidate Lee Wu-lung.[15][16]
On May 17, 2024, he snatched documents from Chester Chou, Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan, and fled quickly, creating an internet meme revolving around the Taiwanese politicians spontaneous action.
References
edit- ^ Chang, Yu-jung (11 May 2002). "Koo's Group urged to end dispute". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ a b "3號 郭國文". Liberty Times (in Chinese). 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Kuo Kuo-wen (10)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Liu, Shao-hua (20 March 2000). "Broad alliance of social activists gives Chen support". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (10 October 2002). "Activists bring their complaints homecto [sic] Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Chao, Stephanie (4 May 2016). "Six deputies added to Lin's Cabinet lineup amid protest". The China Post. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ Chen, Wei-han (6 April 2017). "Migrants urged to run for DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Chen, Wei-han (8 September 2017). "Lai to replace two Cabinet ministers, retain all others". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ Tang, Tsai-hsin; Liu, Wan-chun; Chin, Jonathan (20 September 2016). "Tainan might gain another legislative seat". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "DPP keeps seats, KMT loses one in by-elections". Taipei Times. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Chang, Jung-hsiang; Yeh, Joseph (17 November 2019). "2020 Elections: DPP faces challenge in stronghold Tainan". Central News Agency. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Hsu, Stacy (18 March 2019). "KMT's advances in deep-green areas a cause for celebration, party head says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Kuo Kuo-wen (9)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Hsieh, Chun-lin; Chung, Jake (22 March 2019). "Winners of by-elections sworn in as legislators". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Lee, Hsin-fang; Shih, Hsiao-kuang; Chung, Jake (20 October 2019). "Election campaigns shift into high gear". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Pan, Jason (3 January 2020). "Alleged vote-buying draws charges". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
