Kaohsiung Incident defence lawyer and DPP founder who was premier twice
Born in Pingtung in 1947, he studied law at National Taiwan University, practised as an attorney and defended the accused in the Kaohsiung Incident trials. Elected to the Taiwan Provincial Assembly in 1981, he was one of the eighteen founders of the Democratic Progressive Party in 1986. He served as magistrate of Pingtung County and Taipei County and as secretary-general to President Chen Shui-bian, and chaired the DPP in 2005 and from 2012 to 2014. He was premier from 2006 to 2007, and in 2008 lost the election as Frank Hsieh's vice-presidential running mate. President Tsai Ing-wen made him premier again in 2019, and he served until January 2023, the only premier appointed by two different directly elected presidents.
Also known as: Su Zhenchang
Activities and affiliations
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1986–
Political and party leadership
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1997–2004
Republic of China state institutionsMagistrate of Taipei County
Government and administration -
2005
Democratic Progressive PartyChairman of the Democratic Progressive Party
Political and party leadership -
2006–2007
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Executive YuanHeads of state, government and party of China
Political and party leadership -
2012–2014
Democratic Progressive PartyChairman of the Democratic Progressive Party
Political and party leadership -
2019–2023
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Executive YuanHeads of state, government and party of ChinaMain
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1973–1983Practising lawyer
- 1980Defence lawyer in the Kaohsiung Incident trials
- 1981–1989Member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly for Pingtung County
- 1986.09.28Co-founded the DPP; member of its first Central Standing Committee
- 1989–1993Magistrate of Pingtung County
- 1993–1995Secretary-General of the DPP
- 1996–1997Member of the Legislative Yuan
- 1997–2004Magistrate of Taipei County
- 2004–2005Secretary-General to the President
- 2005–2005.12Chairman of the DPP
- 2006.01.25–2007.05.21President of the Executive Yuan
- 2008.03Lost the election as DPP vice-presidential candidate
- 2012.05–2014Chairman of the DPP
- 2019.01.14–2023.01.31President of the Executive Yuan