Councilor Questions Hou Yu-ih's Role in Cheng Nan-jung Incident; Mayor Says He "Did What Was Necessary"
During a municipal general interpellation on May 20, DPP Councilor Huang Shu-chun revisited the 1989 Cheng Nan-jung incident, calling Mayor Hou Yu-ih, who led the police operation at the time, a "villain." Mayor Hou responded that he had done his duty and that police and firefighters at the scene were there to "save and prevent Cheng Nan-jung's suicide," adding that communication attempts were made but were ineffective.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 19:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 20:02 (35 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 20:11 (9 min after Collected)
(CNA reporter Wang Hung-kuo, New Taipei, 20th) DPP Councilor Huang Shu-chun, during an interpellation today, brought up the Cheng Nan-jung incident again, stating, "I really hate you (Hou Yu-ih), you played the role of the villain." Mayor Hou Yu-ih responded that he had done what was necessary, and the police and firefighters at the scene "were all there to save and prevent the outcome of Cheng Nan-jung's suicide."
The New Taipei City Council held a general municipal interpellation today. Huang Shu-chun stated that she was born in 1989 and wanted to ask a question that young people of her generation are asking about the most famous Cheng Nan-jung incident in the Taiwanese history textbooks she read. At that time, Hou Yu-ih was the police officer who led the team to the scene.
She stated, "Actually, I really hate you. In the incident, you were the villain, the detestable murderer who suppressed democracy." However, after reading the book "The Banality of Evil," she became very curious about the state of duty execution within the administrative system at the time. From his role as a criminal investigation unit chief back then to his current role as mayor, she questioned whether there was room for improvement in Hou Yu-ih's handling of the duties at that time.
Hou Yu-ih stated that he had done what he was supposed to do, including the firefighters entering the scene, all of which was to save and prevent the outcome of Cheng Nan-jung's suicide. "Many things back then were not as you imagine. In the process of trying to save a person, many people suffered minor to serious injuries, and that is also a fact," he said.
Huang Shu-chun asked that now that Hou Yu-ih is the mayor, if he were to encounter citizens with some democratic or verbal appeals, would he communicate in a different way.
Hou Yu-ih replied, "We did communicate, but the communication was ineffective." He said he did communicate at the time, and if it were now, he would be even more inclined to communicate to handle many things with a calmer attitude. However, he added that it still depends on the attitude of the person involved, whether they are willing to communicate, and whether a greater conflict would arise if communication is ineffective, which is not something that can be controlled by one side alone.
Huang Shu-chun stated that such a social case is very meaningful for the discussion of democracy, especially when asked in the council chamber, and only he could answer. She was very curious, as the mayor of New Taipei, if Hou Yu-ih had the opportunity to face such a social event again, how would he conduct relevant communication beforehand? Would he send a unit chief? Or a precinct chief? Or a department director?
Hou Yu-ih said that he does not want tragedies to happen or for such results to occur. He respects every life and hopes to save the life of the person involved, which is the most important goal. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui)
The New Taipei City Council held a general municipal interpellation today. Huang Shu-chun stated that she was born in 1989 and wanted to ask a question that young people of her generation are asking about the most famous Cheng Nan-jung incident in the Taiwanese history textbooks she read. At that time, Hou Yu-ih was the police officer who led the team to the scene.
She stated, "Actually, I really hate you. In the incident, you were the villain, the detestable murderer who suppressed democracy." However, after reading the book "The Banality of Evil," she became very curious about the state of duty execution within the administrative system at the time. From his role as a criminal investigation unit chief back then to his current role as mayor, she questioned whether there was room for improvement in Hou Yu-ih's handling of the duties at that time.
Hou Yu-ih stated that he had done what he was supposed to do, including the firefighters entering the scene, all of which was to save and prevent the outcome of Cheng Nan-jung's suicide. "Many things back then were not as you imagine. In the process of trying to save a person, many people suffered minor to serious injuries, and that is also a fact," he said.
Huang Shu-chun asked that now that Hou Yu-ih is the mayor, if he were to encounter citizens with some democratic or verbal appeals, would he communicate in a different way.
Hou Yu-ih replied, "We did communicate, but the communication was ineffective." He said he did communicate at the time, and if it were now, he would be even more inclined to communicate to handle many things with a calmer attitude. However, he added that it still depends on the attitude of the person involved, whether they are willing to communicate, and whether a greater conflict would arise if communication is ineffective, which is not something that can be controlled by one side alone.
Huang Shu-chun stated that such a social case is very meaningful for the discussion of democracy, especially when asked in the council chamber, and only he could answer. She was very curious, as the mayor of New Taipei, if Hou Yu-ih had the opportunity to face such a social event again, how would he conduct relevant communication beforehand? Would he send a unit chief? Or a precinct chief? Or a department director?
Hou Yu-ih said that he does not want tragedies to happen or for such results to occur. He respects every life and hopes to save the life of the person involved, which is the most important goal. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui)