Hou Yu-ih Net Worth

Background and career

Hou Yu-ih (Chinese: 侯友宜; pinyin: Hóu Yǒuyí; born 7 June 1957) is a Taiwanese politician, criminologist, and former police officer who has served as the second mayor of New Taipei since 2018. A member of the Kuomintang (KMT), he was the party's nominee in the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election. He previously served as director-general of the National Police Agency from 2006 to 2008, president of Central Police University from 2008 to 2010, and deputy mayor of New Taipei City from 2010 to 2018.

Born in Puzi, Chiayi County, Hou graduated from Central Police University in 1980 and earned his doctorate in criminology there in 2004. He began his career in law enforcement and gained national prominence for his role in negotiating the surrender of a fugitive during the 1997 Alexander family hostage crisis. He became commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in 2003 and director-general of the National Police Agency in 2006. In 2010, Hou entered municipal government as deputy mayor under Eric Chu, whom he temporarily succeeded as acting mayor during Chu's presidential campaign from 2015 to 2016.

Hou was elected mayor of New Taipei City in 2018, defeating former premier and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Su Tseng-chang, and was reelected in 2022 after defeating DPP candidate Lin Chia-lung. In May 2023, Hou was nominated as the KMT's presidential candidate for the 2024 election. Following unsuccessful negotiations for a joint opposition ticket with the Taiwan People's Party, he ran alongside Jaw Shaw-kong and finished second behind Lai Ching-te, receiving 33.49% of the national vote.