Chuyongzhen

Chu Yongzhen was born in 1925 in Yuanlingkuang Village, Laishan District, Yantai City, Shandong Province. At 16 she moved with her family to Qingdao to make a living and married Guo Lingrui. In 1948 she relocated to Taiwan following her father’s move. Her family had close ties to the Kuomintang (KMT) and supported the party’s cause.

Economically, in October 2016, when KMT party assets were being investigated and the party was unable to pay salaries, Chu Yongzhen lent NT$45 million to the KMT account as an unsecured, interest-free loan; the flow of these funds was verified. This action was considered related to her family background, especially since her husband Guo Lingrui was a long-time KMT member. In 2019 the KMT issued an honorary certificate to acknowledge her financial assistance.

In educational philanthropy, in 2003 Chu proposed building Yongming Middle School in her hometown. The Laishan District government cooperated and supported the project; total investment reached RMB 30 million, with RMB 60 million provided by the government as matching funds. The school was completed in 2004, and she served as its honorary principal. Guo Taiming (Terry Gou) later contributed additional funds to improve campus facilities. As of November 2017, Yongming Middle School had educated more than 3,600 students and contributed to regional educational development.

Within the family, Chu provided early financial support for Guo Taiming’s entrepreneurship by participating in a rotating savings association (biao hui) that raised NT$100,000 in startup capital, helping to establish Hon Hai Group (Foxconn). Family ties are close, and Chu played an important role in Guo Taiming’s career development. In July 2019 she attended a charitable event in a wheelchair due to health reasons, demonstrating her continued attention to family and public welfare. Family members have often taken part together in philanthropic and social activities.

Chu Yongzhen’s life reflects multifaceted social involvement and family influence across business, education, and politics, with her personal activities focused mainly on family support, public welfare, and her connections to the KMT.