Yu Tian
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 pop singer in Mandarin and Hokkien. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu served as a member of the Legislative Yuan from 2008 to 2012, and was reelected to the office in 2019.
Yu Tian | |
---|---|
余天 | |
Yu Tian in 2009 | |
Member of the Legislative Yuan | |
Assumed office 21 March 2019 | |
Preceded by | Gao Jyh-peng |
Constituency | New Taipei 3 |
In office 1 February 2008 – 31 January 2012 | |
Preceded by | Chu Chun-hsiao |
Succeeded by | Gao Jyh-peng |
Constituency | New Taipei 3 |
Personal details | |
Born | Hsinchu, Taiwan Province, Republic of China | 18 February 1947
Nationality | Republic of China |
Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Spouse(s) | Lee Ya-ping |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Singer |
Political career
Within the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu Tian is allied with Yu Shyi-kun.[1] He is also known for his support of Chen Shui-bian.[2][3] Yu ran for New Taipei 3 in 2008, and defeated Kuomintang incumbent Chu Chun-hsiao by approximately 2,000 votes.[4] Chu filed an unsuccessful lawsuit in an attempt to annul the election results.[5] A separate case was brought against Yu supporter Wang Ying-lan, who was charged with making threats to the opposition.[6] Wang was later released on bail.[7] 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.[8] The next year, Yu's DPP membership was suspended because he had failed to fulfill a fundraising quota.[9] In 2010, Yu was named to Tsai Ing-wen's New Taipei mayoral campaign team.[10]
Though there was speculation that Yu would not receive DPP backing in a reelection bid,[11][12] Yu was listed fourteenth on the Democratic Progressive Party's proportional representation party list, and expected to win.[13][14] During the campaign, Kuomintang politicians accused Yu and others of gambling, and in response, Yu charged them with defamation.[15]
The Taiwan Competitiveness Forum regarded Yu Tian as a controversial figure prior to the start of his first legislative term.[16] During his first term, Yu was ranked highly by the Citizen Congress Watch.[17][18]
In 2018, Yu was the only candidate to run in elections for the DPP chapter leadership in New Taipei.[19] After Gao Jyh-peng was removed from office,[20][21] 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.[22][23] Yu took office on 21 March 2019.[24]
Music career
Yu is best known for his 1977 release "Under the Banyan Tree", a Mandarin cover version of a Japanese song, and remained popular throughout the 1980s.[25][26] In 2003, Yu founded the Taiwan Cultural Entertainment Development Association.[27] Four years later, he launched a Kaohsiung-based entertainment labor union.[28] 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.[29][30]
Personal life
Yu is married to fellow entertainer Lee Ya-ping.[31] Yu and Lee have two daughters, Yu Shiao-ping and Yu Yuan-chi,[25][32] and one son, Ken Yu.[33] His family was the target of extortion by the Bamboo Union in 2005.[34]
Yu Tian's adopted younger brother was sentenced to death by Chinese authorities for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country in March 2005.[35][36][37]
References
- Su, Fang-ho; Yang, Chun-hui; Chin, Jonathan (7 October 2016). "Lai visits north, sets off rumors of mayoral run". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Wang, Flora (3 October 2008). "DPP legislator draws fire for pro-Chen comment". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Hsu, Jenny W. (25 April 2009). "DPP legislators say Chen welcome to rejoin party". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "KMT wins two-thirds majority". Taipei Times. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Loa, Iok-sin (18 January 2008). "KMT legislator to file suit after losing to newcomer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Lu, Maggie (6 January 2008). "Prosecutors indict campaign staffer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Alleged gangster released". Taipei Times. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich; Lu, Maggie; Loa, Iok-sin (7 November 2008). "Tensions mount in the capital". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich (20 April 2009). "Legislators fail to raise enough money, suspended". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chao, Vincent Y. (7 July 2010). "Tsai appoints former rival". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chao, Vincent Y. (29 June 2011). "Yu Tian supporters seek to sway roster". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chao, Vincent Y. (27 June 2011). "DPP ready to finalize list of legislator-at-large hopefuls". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Shen sweeps Yu's steps". Taipei Times. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chao, Vincent Y. (30 June 2011). "DPP releases legislator-at-large roster". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Wang, Chris (25 November 2011). "DPP attorneys file lawsuits against three politicians". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Wang, Flora (3 January 2008). "Think tank survey lists 'unqualified' election candidates". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Wang, Flora (8 March 2010). "Citizen Congress Watch releases legislative report". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Wang, Flora (21 July 2008). "Watchdog releases report on legislature". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- 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.
- Hsiao, Po-wen; Kao, Evelyn (26 December 2018). "DPP lawmaker sentenced to four years, six months for corruption". Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- Pan, Jason (11 January 2019). "Former DPP legislator Gao Jyh-peng hands himself in to begin prison term". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- "DPP keeps seats, KMT loses one in by-elections". Taipei Times. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- 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.
- Hsieh, Chun-lin; Chung, Jake (22 March 2019). "Winners of by-elections sworn in as legislators". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- Ng, Gwendolyn (4 November 2015). "Singer Yu Tian recovers in time for concert here". Straits Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Ng, Gwendolyn (27 February 2014). "Singer Yu Tian remembers the late Frankie Kao". AsiaOne. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Yiu, Cody (6 December 2006). "Group forms to promote entertainment industry". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich (26 September 2007). "Prosecutors have hard time nailing small-time gangs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Lin, Chia-hung (29 March 2012). "Yu Tian returns to show business after failed bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "CD reviews: Taiwan". Taipei Times. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chao, Vincent Y. (26 April 2011). "Gaffe-prone DPP lawmaker sorry for Muslim comments". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Hirsch, Max (19 June 2007). "Yu Tian's daughter takes third place in mahjong tourney". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich (21 January 2008). "DPP legislator-elect says his son was victimized". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich (24 June 2005). "Gangsters arrested for extorting famed singers". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- Chang, Rich (27 June 2005). "Singer Yu's brother put to death". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Singer's brother not dead". Taipei Times. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Yu Fu-hsing may be alive". Taipei Times. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yu Tian. |