Former Taiwan Transport Minister Kuo Yao-chi Passes Away at 69

A Life in Public Service and Controversy Ends with the Death of Kuo Yao-chi

Taipei, March 24 - Former Minister of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan, Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪), has passed away at the age of 69. Kuo, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, succumbed to a life-threatening condition.

Sources report that Kuo was rushed to Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment following an aortic dissection. Sadly, she was pronounced dead around 11 a.m. on Monday.

The hospital, citing patient privacy, did not release any information about Kuo's specific illness.

Kuo Yao-chi served as transport minister from January to August 2006. During her tenure, she notably oversaw the official opening of the 12.94-kilometer Hsuehshan Tunnel, which is the longest in Taiwan.

In April 2011, the Democratic Progressive Party politician was convicted by the Taiwan High Court of accepting US$20,000 in bribes from the Nan Ren Hu Group, a service industry conglomerate, while she was serving as transport minister.

The Supreme Court upheld Kuo's conviction in December 2013, leading to the start of her eight-year prison sentence the following month.

The Ministry of Justice granted Kuo medical parole in January 2016 after she was diagnosed with cancer.