Yu Tian
MLY
余天
Yu Tian in 2009
Member of the Legislative Yuan
Assumed office
21 March 2019
Preceded byGao Jyh-peng
Succeeded byLee Kuen-chen
ConstituencyNew Taipei 3
In office
1 February 2008 – 31 January 2012
Preceded byChu Chun-hsiao
Succeeded byGao Jyh-peng
ConstituencyNew Taipei 3
Personal details
Born (1947-02-18) 18 February 1947
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
SpouseLee Ya-ping
Children3 (1 deceased)
Alma materChien-Hwa Junior High School
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionSinger

Yu Tian (Chinese: 余天; pinyin: Yú Tiān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Û Thian; born 18 February 1947), born Yu Tsing-yuan (Chinese: 余清源; pinyin: Yú Qīngyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Û Chheng-goân), is a Taiwanese politician and pop singer in Mandarin and Hokkien. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu currently serves as a member of the Legislative Yuan and previously held the same seat from 2008 to 2012.

Early life and education

Born in Hsinchu, Yu Tian graduated from Hsinchu Chien Hua Junior High School.[1][2]

Music career

Yu is best known for his 1977 release "Under the Banyan Tree", a Mandarin cover version of the Japanese song Kitaguni no haru, and remained popular throughout the 1980s.[3][4] In 2003, Yu founded the Taiwan Cultural Entertainment Development Association.[5] Four years later, he launched a Kaohsiung-based entertainment labor union.[6] Yu worked with Chthonic on the 2011 album Takasago Army and formally announced a return to the entertainment industry upon losing the 2012 legislative elections.[7][8]

Political career

Within the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu Tian is allied with Yu Shyi-kun.[9] He is also known for his support of former president Chen Shui-bian.[10][11] Yu ran for New Taipei 3 in 2008, and defeated Kuomintang incumbent Chu Chun-hsiao by approximately 2,000 votes.[12] Chu filed an unsuccessful lawsuit in an attempt to annul the election results.[13] A separate case was brought against Yu supporter Wang Ying-lan, who was charged with making threats to the opposition.[14] Wang was later released on bail.[15] In November 2008, Yu and other DPP politicians publicly protested Ma Ying-jeou's meeting with Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin.[16] The next year, Yu's DPP membership was suspended because he had failed to fulfill a fundraising quota.[17] In 2010, Yu was named to Tsai Ing-wen's New Taipei mayoral campaign team.[18]

Though there was speculation that Yu would not receive DPP backing in a reelection bid,[19][20] Yu was listed fourteenth on the Democratic Progressive Party's proportional representation party list, and expected to win.[21][22] During the campaign, Kuomintang politicians accused Yu and others of gambling, and in response, Yu charged them with defamation.[23]

The Taiwan Competitiveness Forum regarded Yu Tian as a controversial figure prior to the start of his first legislative term.[24] During his first term, Yu was ranked highly by the Citizen Congress Watch.[25][26]

In 2018, Yu was the only candidate to run in elections for the DPP chapter leadership in New Taipei.[27] After Gao Jyh-peng was removed from office,[28][29] Yu Tian was named the DPP candidate for by-elections held in March 2019. Yu won 56,888 votes, and defeated Kuomintang candidate Cheng Shih-wei as well as independent Su Ching-yen.[30][31] Yu took office on 21 March 2019.[32][33] Yu was reelected to a full term in 2020.[2]

Personal life

Yu is married to fellow entertainer Lee Ya-ping.[34] Yu and Lee have two daughters, Yu Shiao-ping and Yu Yuan-chi,[3][35] and one son, Ken Yu.[36] His family was the target of extortion by the Bamboo Union in 2005.[37]

Yu Tian's adopted younger brother was sentenced to death by Chinese authorities for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country in March 2005.[38][39][40]

Yu Tian's second daughter, Yu Yuan-chi, died of rectal cancer at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on August 21, 2022, aged 39.[41][42]

References

  1. ↑ "Yu Tian (7)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Yu Tian (10)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 Ng, Gwendolyn (4 November 2015). "Singer Yu Tian recovers in time for concert here". Straits Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Ng, Gwendolyn (27 February 2014). "Singer Yu Tian remembers the late Frankie Kao". AsiaOne. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Yiu, Cody (6 December 2006). "Group forms to promote entertainment industry". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Chang, Rich (26 September 2007). "Prosecutors have hard time nailing small-time gangs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Lin, Chia-hung (29 March 2012). "Yu Tian returns to show business after failed bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "CD reviews: Taiwan". Taipei Times. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Su, Fang-ho; Yang, Chun-hui; Chin, Jonathan (7 October 2016). "Lai visits north, sets off rumors of mayoral run". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Wang, Flora (3 October 2008). "DPP legislator draws fire for pro-Chen comment". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. ↑ Hsu, Jenny W. (25 April 2009). "DPP legislators say Chen welcome to rejoin party". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "KMT wins two-thirds majority". Taipei Times. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Loa, Iok-sin (18 January 2008). "KMT legislator to file suit after losing to newcomer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. ↑ Lu, Maggie (6 January 2008). "Prosecutors indict campaign staffer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Alleged gangster released". Taipei Times. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  16. ↑ Chang, Rich; Lu, Maggie; Loa, Iok-sin (7 November 2008). "Tensions mount in the capital". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Chang, Rich (20 April 2009). "Legislators fail to raise enough money, suspended". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  18. ↑ Chao, Vincent Y. (7 July 2010). "Tsai appoints former rival". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  19. ↑ Chao, Vincent Y. (29 June 2011). "Yu Tian supporters seek to sway roster". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Chao, Vincent Y. (27 June 2011). "DPP ready to finalize list of legislator-at-large hopefuls". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Shen sweeps Yu's steps". Taipei Times. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  22. ↑ Chao, Vincent Y. (30 June 2011). "DPP releases legislator-at-large roster". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  23. ↑ Wang, Chris (25 November 2011). "DPP attorneys file lawsuits against three politicians". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  24. ↑ Wang, Flora (3 January 2008). "Think tank survey lists 'unqualified' election candidates". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  25. ↑ Wang, Flora (8 March 2010). "Citizen Congress Watch releases legislative report". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  26. ↑ Wang, Flora (21 July 2008). "Watchdog releases report on legislature". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  27. ↑ Ho, Yu-hua; Chin, Jonathan (28 May 2018). "DPP full of cliques, ex-legislator says after wife said party 'ruined' family". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  28. ↑ Hsiao, Po-wen; Kao, Evelyn (26 December 2018). "DPP lawmaker sentenced to four years, six months for corruption". Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  29. ↑ Pan, Jason (11 January 2019). "Former DPP legislator Gao Jyh-peng hands himself in to begin prison term". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  30. ↑ "DPP keeps seats, KMT loses one in by-elections". Taipei Times. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  31. ↑ Lee, Hsin-Yin (16 March 2019). "DPP picks up 2 seats, KMT 1 in legislative by-elections (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "Yu Tian (9)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  33. ↑ Hsieh, Chun-lin; Chung, Jake (22 March 2019). "Winners of by-elections sworn in as legislators". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  34. ↑ Chao, Vincent Y. (26 April 2011). "Gaffe-prone DPP lawmaker sorry for Muslim comments". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  35. ↑ Hirsch, Max (19 June 2007). "Yu Tian's daughter takes third place in mahjong tourney". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  36. ↑ Chang, Rich (21 January 2008). "DPP legislator-elect says his son was victimized". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  37. ↑ Chang, Rich (24 June 2005). "Gangsters arrested for extorting famed singers". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  38. ↑ Chang, Rich (27 June 2005). "Singer Yu's brother put to death". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  39. ↑ "Singer's brother not dead". Taipei Times. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  40. ↑ "Yu Fu-hsing may be alive". Taipei Times. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  41. ↑ "Taiwanese entertainment icon Yu Tian's 2nd daughter dies". Taiwan News. 21 August 2022.
  42. ↑ Wang, Hsin-yu; Wang, Hung-kuo; Kao, Evelyn (22 August 2022). "Yu Yuan-chi, daughter of singer-turned-legislator Yu Tian, dies age 39". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yu Tian.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.