Less Than Six Months After Resigning Over Deadly Puyuma Derailment, Wu Hong-mo Appointed Chairman of Chunghwa Post, Sparking Outrage Over Shameless Political Patronage

On May 18, 2019, the Executive Yuan approved the appointment of former Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Hong-mo as Chairman of state-owned Chunghwa Post. Wu, a longtime infrastructure lieutenant of former Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, had a history of evading political accountability. He previously resigned as Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung over the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions (32 deaths) only to quietly return to the post months later. After rising to Minister of Transportation in July 2018, he resigned under intense public pressure following the October 2018 Puyuma Express derailment (18 deaths). Yet, less than six months later, despite having zero background in finance or postal administration, he was appointed to head Chunghwa Post, a financial giant managing trillions of NTD in savings. The appointment was widely condemned by the public and opposition parties as a classic case of factional spoils division, sparking the sarcastic saying, "As long as it's approved by Chen Chu, it's a guarantee for promotion."