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J.W. Kuo

In this Chinese name, the family name is Kuo.
Kuo Jyh-huei
郭智輝
Official portrait, 2024
36th Minister of Economic Affairs
In office
20 May 2024 – 22 August 2025
PremierCho Jung-tai
Preceded byWang Mei-hua
Succeeded byKung Ming-hsin
Personal details
Born7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) (age 72)
Pingtung County, Taiwan
Political partyIndependent
EducationCheng Shiu University (BA)
National Taipei University (MBA, PhD)

Kuo Jyh-huei (Chinese: 郭智輝; pinyin: Guō Zhìhuī; born 7 February 1953) is a Taiwanese business executive and politician who served as Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs from April 2024 to August 2025.

Early life and education

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Kuo was born in Pingtung County. In his first sales job after completing military service, Kuo learned Japanese in two years, and later worked for Terry Gou as an interpreter and driver.[1] Kuo has served as chairman of TeaLa, and co-founded TOPCO Scientific Company.[2][3]

After graduating from Cheng Shiu University, Kuo earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 2001 and his Ph.D. in business administration from National Taipei University in 2006. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "An empirical study on the impact of senior managers' psychological distance, background, and organizational isomorphism on the timing of corporate investment in China: A case study of Taiwan's electronic information industry" (Chinese: 高階管理者心理距離、背景及組織同形化對企業投資中國時點的實證研究—以我國電子資訊產業為例).[4]

Political career

[edit]

On 16 April 2024, Kuo was appointed Minister of Economic Affairs in Cho Jung-tai's incoming cabinet, succeeding Wang Mei-hua in the role.[3][5] Legislators from the Kuomintang panned the selection of Kuo as economic minister, drawing attention to his 2005 conviction of violating the Securities and Exchange Act, TOPCO Group's investments and business registrations in mainland China, and his reneging on a "promise to become involved" in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[6]

In May 2024, Kuo announced to an ICT industry group plans for the Lai administration to open overseas science parks in countries where Taiwanese businesses have made major investments, including the United States, Mexico, and Japan.[7] Kuo later signed an economic development statement of intent with Texas governor Greg Abbott in July 2024 and oversaw the opening of a State of Texas economic office in Taipei.[8]

In July 2024, Kuo raised concerns about the reliability of Taiwan's electric power grid, claiming that, due to the increased power consumption from artificial intelligence data centers, the country would face electric shortages from 2025 to 2028, potentially leading to blackouts.[9]

Kuo resigned as Minister of Economic Affairs on 22 August 2025 citing the impact of the job on his health.[10] He was succeeded by Kung Ming-hsin.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Yeh, Su-ping; Lai, Yu-chen; Wu, Jeffrey; Tseng, Jen-kai; Huang, Frances (16 April 2024). "Appointed economics minister dubbed 'slashie entrepreneur'". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 April 2024. Republished as: "Appointed economics minister dubbed 'slashie entrepreneur'". Taipei Times. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ Liu, Chien-ling; Huang, Frances (1 February 2024). "Taiwan, Czech groups sign semiconductor cooperation MOU". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 April 2024. Republished as: "Taiwan, Czech groups ink chip cooperation". Taipei Times. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Teng, Pei-ju; Lin, Sean (16 April 2024). "New economics, national development heads tapped from private sector". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ "高階管理者心理距離、背景及組織同形化對企業投資中國時點的實證研究—以我國電子資訊產業為例__臺灣博碩士論文知識加值系統". ndltd.ncl.edu.tw (PhD Thesis). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  5. ^ Chen, Christie (16 April 2024). "Economics minister, NDC chief among new Cabinet members announced". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 April 2024. Republished as: Chen, Yun; Madjar, Kayleigh (16 April 2024). "New economics, digital ministers announced". Taipei Times.
  6. ^ Lin, Che-yuan; Chung, Jake (18 April 2024). "KMT lawmakers slam decision to appoint J.W. Kuo". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ "New government plans to set up overseas science parks". Focus Taiwan. 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  8. ^ "Texas governor announces Taiwan trade office". Taipei Times. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  9. ^ "郭智輝爆2025-2028供電吃緊 一情況恐全台大停電" [Kuo Jyh-huei reveals that electricity will be in short supply from 2025 to 2028, which may lead to blackouts across Taiwan]. 鏡新聞 (in Traditional Chinese). 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  10. ^ Tseng, Joy; Liu, Kay (2025-08-22). "Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei resigns citing health". Focus Taiwan. CNA. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  11. ^ Lu, Xuehui; Lu, Junyi; Yang, Rixing (2025-08-23). "內閣改組 龔明鑫接經濟部長" [Cabinet reshuffle: Kung Ming-hsin takes over as Minister of Economic Affairs]. Commercial Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-08-22.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Economic Affairs of Taiwan
2024–2025 		Succeeded by