Ko Chih-en

Ko Chih-en
柯志恩
Official portrait, 2016
Member of the Legislative Yuan
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2024
ConstituencyParty-list (KMT)
In office
1 February 2016 – 31 January 2020
ConstituencyParty-list (KMT)
Personal details
Born (1962-04-29) 29 April 1962 (age 64)
Pingtung County, Taiwan
PartyKuomintang
ParentKo Wen-fu [zh] (father)
EducationNational Chengchi University (BEd)
Michigan State University (MEd)
University of Southern California (PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsEducational psychology
ThesisInstructional media selection: Interactive effects of timing of feedback and learners' prior knowledge on the achievement and retention of a computer-based mathematical task (1992)
Richard E. Clark

Ko Chih-en (Chinese: 柯志恩; pinyin: Kē Zhì'ēn; born 29 April 1962) is a Taiwanese educational psychologist and politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Yuan since 2024. A member of the Kuomintang (KMT), she previously served as a legislator from 2016 to 2020.

Born in Pingtung County, Ko graduated from National Chengchi University in 1984 and became a popular television presenter. After earning her doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California in 1992, she taught as a professor of psychology and academic administrator at Tamkang University.

Ko entered politics as a KMT party-list legislator in 2016 but lost her bid for re-election in the 2020 Taiwanese legislative election. She subsequently served as a KMT deputy secretary-general and executive director of the party's National Policy Foundation. In 2022, she unsuccessfully challenged incumbent mayor Chen Chi-mai in the 2022 Kaohsiung mayoral election. She was returned to the Legislative Yuan in 2024 and was nominated as the KMT's candidate in the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election.

Early life and education

Ko was born on 29 April 1962 and was raised in Chaozhou, Pingtung County, Taiwan. She has two older brothers. Her father, Ko Wen-fu [zh] (柯文福), was an educator who served as magistrate of Pingtung County, from 1973 to 1981. As a child, she spoke predominantly Taiwanese Hokkien and had limited proficiency in Mandarin Chinese before the age of seven. Her family later moved to Pingtung City, where she attended elementary school and learned to speak Mandarin by interacting with military families living in nearby military dependents' villages.

Ko graduated from National Pingtung Girls' Senior High School. She then enrolled at National Chengchi University to study education. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in educational psychology in 1984. She then pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from Michigan State University. She briefly returned to Taiwan to work as a university lecturer and television presenter afterwards.

Despite initial success as a television host, Ko returned to the U.S. to complete doctoral studies with the aim of becoming a professor. She earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Southern California in 1992. Her doctoral dissertation was titled, Instructional Media Selection: Interactive Effects of Timing of Feedback and Learners' Prior Knowledge on the Achievement and Retention of a Computer-Based Mathematical Task.

Academic career

After receiving her doctorate, Ko was an adjunct associate professor of education at National Chengchi University and an adjunct professor at Fu Jen Catholic University before becoming a full-time associate professor of teacher education at Tamkang University. She also worked at the University of Southern California as an instructor at its Human Resources Training Center and as a counselor at its Learning Center.

In 1 August 2002, Ko became the inaugural director of Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling, where she remained until July 2008. She initially held the rank of associate professor and was subsequently promoted to professor in the institute.

Ko was appointed dean of student affairs at Tamkang in August 2009, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the university's history. She was still serving concurrently as dean of student affairs and professor of educational psychology and counseling when the Kuomintang nominated her for the Legislative Yuan in November 2015. She was succeeded as dean by Lin Chun-hung at the beginning of the second semester of the 2015–2016 academic year.

During the 2023–2024 academic year, Ko remained a professor at Tamkang University, where she continued to teach and do research in educational psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and learning, learning diagnosis, and creative-thinking instruction. She retired from the university in 2024.

Legislative Yuan

First term, 2016–2020

Ko in 2017

The Kuomintang (KMT) selected Ko as the second candidate on its party list for the 2016 Taiwanese legislative election, behind Wang Jin-pyng, who was then president of the Legislative Yuan. The party included Ko, who was then dean of student affairs at Tamkang University, among its nominees representing the education sector. Following the election, she assumed office as a member of the 9th Legislative Yuan on 1 February 2016.

During her first term, Ko served on the Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee throughout all eight legislative sessions. In the third session, she served as convener of both the Education and Culture Committee and the Discipline Committee. She also served on the Procedure Committee during several subsequent legislative sessions, including as its convener during the seventh session.

Ko at the inaugural meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Canada Friendship Association in April 2016

As a legislator, Ko took an interest in education, LGBT rights, women's rights, pension reform, and energy. She was supportive of many cultural exchanges between Taiwan and other countries, namely China. Soon after taking office, she co-signed a bill proposed by Karen Yu to allow young children into the legislative chamber. In March 2018, Ko remarked that customs deemed discriminatory toward women should be phased out. She approached pension reform from a schoolteacher's perspective, proposing that the monthly pension be capped at NT$32,160, and suggested that pensions be withheld from retired public servants that took positions at government funded agencies willing to pay half of their former salary.

In the 2020 Taiwanese legislative election, Ko contested the directly elected seat for New Taipei City's seventh electoral district, covering eastern Banqiao District, against incumbent DPP legislator Lo Chih-cheng. Ko received 70,659 votes, or approximately 40.08 percent, losing to Lo, who secured reelection with 82,764 votes. Her first legislative term ended on 31 January 2020. Following the KMT's defeat in the 2020 presidential and legislative elections, Ko joined the party's leadership under chairman Johnny Chiang. On 17 March 2020, Chiang announced Ko's appointment as one of the party's four part-time deputy secretaries-general. In October 2021, after Eric Chu became KMT chairman, Ko was appointed executive director of the National Policy Foundation, the party's policy research organization.

Second term, 2024–present

Ko in January 2023 speaking at a KMT campaign rally ahead of the 2024 Taiwanese general election

On 19 November 2023, the KMT selected Ko as the second candidate on its party list for the 2024 Taiwanese legislative election, behind former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu. Following the election, Ko returned to the Legislative Yuan on 1 February 2024 as a party-list legislator in the eleventh legislative term. She resumed service on the Education and Culture Committee and was appointed one of its conveners during the first legislative session.

In February 2024, Ko joined fellow KMT party-list legislators Chen Ching-hui and Lin Chien-chi in establishing a joint constituency service office at the party's Kaohsiung headquarters. On 20 April 2024, she became chairwoman of the KMT's Kaohsiung City party branch, succeeding Huang Chao-shun. In November 2025, following a change in the KMT's national leadership, Ko was retained as chairwoman of its Kaohsiung City branch under party chairwoman Cheng Li-wun.

Mayoral election campaigns

2022 Kaohsiung mayoral election

In June 2022, Ko was a prospective KMT candidate for the Kaohsiung mayoral election, after internal party polling placed her among the leading contenders for the nomination. On 29 June 2022, the KMT nominated her to challenge incumbent DPP mayor Chen Chi-mai. During the campaign, Ko emphasized employment opportunities, economic development, education, environmental protection, and conditions affecting young people in Kaohsiung. She also ran on environmental protection policies. In the election held on 26 November 2022, Ko received 529,607 votes, losing to Chen, who was re-elected with 766,147 votes.

2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election

On 24 December 2025, the KMT's Central Standing Committee selected Ko to contest the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election, as part of the party's first round of local executive nominations. Her nomination was confirmed at the party's national congress on 25 July 2026. The election's main contenders included Ko and DPP legislator Lai Jui-lung, who was nominated to succeed the term-limited mayor Chen Chi-mai. Her campaign platform included proposals for urban redevelopment, industrial modernization, environmental protection, public transportation, youth employment, and affordable housing.

Personal life

Ko is married to Hung De-cheng (洪德成), a computer engineer. They have two children, a son and a daughter.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wang, Yung-chao (15 September 2026). "Interview: The Ko Chih-en You Don't Know! From Teacher to Golden Bell Award-Winning Host, Writer and Legislator" 專訪｜你不知道的柯志恩！老師➡金鐘主持人➡作家➡立委　再戰高雄曝心聲. KNews (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  2. ↑ Lin, Liang-sheng (25 July 2022). "Ko Chih-en Says Son Works in the United States and Holds a Green Card: Nothing Unusual or Worth Debating" 兒子在美國工作有綠卡 柯志恩：很自然不需要被討論. Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  3. ↑ Tsai, Meng-yu (7 August 2022). "Supporter Gives Ko Chih-en Her Father's 50-Year-Old Campaign Badge, Moving Her to Tears" 支持者送上父親50年前「福」字徽章 柯志恩感動哽咽 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  4. 1 2 Su, Fang-ho; Cheng, Hung-ta (16 October 2026). "Ko Chih-en Interview: How She Built Support in Kaohsiung After Arriving Four Years Ago" 柯志恩專訪／4年前一咖包包南下高雄，從「妳哪位」變大姐頭？不愛演戲愛翻白眼的柯老師，靠這招拉近選民. Business Today (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  5. 1 2 "Ko Chih-en: Cheongsams and Sunglasses Bring Back Childhood Memories of the Air Force" 柯志恩：旗袍與墨鏡是兒時對空軍的回憶. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency. 14 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Wu, Wen-chin (1 December 2024). "Ko Chih-en Returns to Her Alma Mater, Pingtung Girls' High School, and Meets Former Elementary and High School Classmates" 柯志恩回母校屏東女中遇見小學、高中同窗. Le Shang News (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  7. ↑ Hsieh, Wen-che (28 December 2023). "Ko Chih-en Applies for Early Retirement, Bringing Her 27-Year Teaching Career to an End" 柯志恩申請提前退休　27年教學生涯畫句點. Mirror Media (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  8. ↑ Chen, Chia-yun (4 March 2019). "Ko Chih-en Seeks Legislative Seat in Banqiao; Local Figures Say Her Outsider Status Is Not a Problem" 柯志恩欲轉戰板橋立委 地方認為空降不成問題. Newtalk (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  9. ↑ "Ko Chih-en, Director of the Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling" 柯志恩 / 教育心理與諮商研究所所長. Tamkang Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. 16 September 2002.
  10. ↑ "Instructional media selection: Interactive effects of timing of feedback and learners' prior knowledge on the achievement and retention of a computer-based mathematical task" (PhD Thesis). University of Southern California. 1992. doi:10.25549/usctheses-c29-1765. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "Ko Chih-en" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Character Education Begins with Service Learning". Tamkang Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "History of the Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "2004–2005 Academic Year Evaluation of Teacher Education Centers" (PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Ministry of Education. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ko Chih-en Appointed Dean of Student Affairs, Emphasizes Connecting Service with the Community". Tamkang Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Ko Chih-en and Hsieh Ying-chun Nominated as Party-List Legislative Candidates". Tamkang Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Dean of Student Affairs Lin Chun-hung". Tamkang Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "2023–2024 Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling Handbook" (PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Tamkang University College of Education Bulletin, No. 174" (PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Tamkang University College of Education. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  20. 1 2 Liu, Li-jung (20 November 2015). "KMT Party-List Nominees Revealed, Wang Jin-pyng Ranked First" 國民黨不分區名單曝光 王金平排第一 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Legislator Ko Chih-en, Ninth Legislative Yuan" 柯志恩委員 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Legislative Yuan.
  22. ↑ Lin, Sean (6 May 2016). "Education minister insists curriculum had 'no problems'". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  23. ↑ Lin, Sean (11 December 2016). "Thousands rally to support equal marriage rights". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  24. ↑ Lin, Sean (7 October 2017). "Cabinet working on gay marriage legislation: Lai". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  25. ↑ Lin, Sean (30 March 2018). "KMT demands answers about reactor incident". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  26. ↑ Chang, Hung-ta; Chin, Jonathan (11 August 2017). "KMT lawmaker challenges premier on vow to meet power demand in two years". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  27. ↑ "Le Cordon Bleu could start culinary program in Taiwan soon, official says". Taipei Times. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  28. ↑ Gerber, Abraham (18 March 2016). "Security for musicians in China 'honor': lawmaker". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  29. ↑ Shan, Shelley (14 October 2016). "Culture ministry rules out local branch of iQiyi". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  30. ↑ Chen, Wei-han (23 September 2016). "Jackie Chan replicas axed". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  31. ↑ Hsiao, Alison (5 March 2016). "Legislator wants children in chamber". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  32. ↑ Chin, Jonathan (8 March 2018). "Discriminatory customs should be dropped: legislator". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  33. ↑ Tseng, Wei-chen (7 May 2017). "Committee to begin pension reform review". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  34. ↑ Lin, Sean (29 June 2017). "Teacher retirement age reform bill passes reading". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  35. ↑ Lin, Sean (16 June 2017). "Party caucuses fail to agree on pension reform bills". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  36. ↑ Lin, Sean (17 June 2017). "Draft to ban pension for retirees on high-paid jobs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  37. 1 2 Chen, Chun-hua (11 January 2020). "Lo Chih-cheng Wins Reelection in Banqiao Swing District Through Strong Ground and Media Campaigns" 羅致政陸戰空戰實力強 板橋搖擺區連任成功 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  38. 1 2 Yu, Hsiang (17 March 2020). "Johnny Chiang Announces Party Personnel: Lee Chien-lung Named Secretary-General and Lee Yen-hsiu Deputy Secretary-General" 江啟臣公布人事 李乾龍接秘書長李彥秀任副秘 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  39. ↑ Liu, Kuan-ting (14 October 2021). "KMT Think Tank Restructured: Eric Chu and Chang San-cheng Become Chairman and Vice Chairman" 國民黨智庫改組 朱立倫、張善政任正副董事長 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  40. ↑ Kao, Hua-chien; Wang, Cheng-chung (19 November 2023). "KMT Party-List Nominees Announced: Han Kuo-yu, Ko Chih-en and Hsieh Lung-chieh Included in Winnable Positions" 國民黨不分區立委出爐 韓國瑜柯志恩謝龍介列安全名單 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  41. 1 2 "Legislator Ko Chih-en, Eleventh Legislative Yuan" 柯志恩委員 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Legislative Yuan.
  42. ↑ Lin, Chiao-lien (4 February 2024). "Ko Chih-en on Adding Han Kuo-yu to Kaohsiung Joint Office: He Would Have No Objection" 高雄聯合辦公室加韓國瑜 柯志恩：他不會有意見 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  43. ↑ Lin, Chiao-lien (20 April 2024). "Ko Chih-en Becomes KMT Kaohsiung Branch Chairwoman, Pledges to Create the Greatest Miracle" 柯志恩接高市黨部主委 喊話「創造最大奇蹟」 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  44. ↑ Liu, Kuan-ting (3 November 2025). "Most KMT Local Branch Chairs Retained; Tai Hsi-chin Continues as Taipei Chair" 國民黨地方黨部人事多數留任 戴錫欽續任北市主委 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  45. ↑ Liu, Kuan-ting (23 June 2022). "Ko Chih-en on Running for Kaohsiung Mayor: Willing to Take Responsibility and Give Her Best" 參選高雄市長 柯志恩：願意承擔、全力以赴 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  46. ↑ Wang, Cheng-chung (29 June 2022). "Ko Chih-en Receives KMT Nomination for Kaohsiung Mayor, Pledges to Give Her Best" 獲國民黨提名參選高雄市長 柯志恩：全力以赴 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  47. ↑ Tseng, Yi-ning (7 October 2022). "Ko Chih-en Proposes Three Policies to Support Youth Employment; Chen Chi-mai Highlights Investment" 柯志恩提3政見助青年就業 陳其邁談招商引資 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  48. ↑ Hung, Hsueh-kuang (13 November 2022). "Chen Chi-mai and Ko Chih-en Present Five Policies to Improve Kaohsiung's Air Quality" 高雄反空污 陳其邁、柯志恩提5政見改善空品 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  49. ↑ Tsai, Meng-yu (26 November 2022). "Chen Chi-mai's Accelerated Development Agenda Wins Approval; Ko Chih-en Unable to Reverse Election Outcome" 2年拚4年陳其邁施政獲肯定 柯志恩難力挽狂瀾 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  50. ↑ Liu, Kuan-ting (24 December 2025). "KMT Announces First Mayoral and Magistrate Nominations for Southern Taiwan and Taitung" 國民黨首波縣市長提名南高屏加台東 將邀王金平任最高顧問 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  51. ↑ Lin, Chiao-lien (25 July 2026). "Ko Chih-en Formally Nominated by KMT, Pledges to Seek Full Support of Kaohsiung Residents" 獲國民黨正式提名 柯志恩：全力爭取高雄市民支持 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  52. ↑ "2026 Local Elections: Kaohsiung Mayoral Race Between Lai Jui-lung and Ko Chih-en" 2026九合一選舉 高雄市選戰：賴瑞隆 VS. 柯志恩 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency. 21 September 2026.
  53. ↑ Tsai, Meng-yu (15 October 2026). "At Youth Forum, Ko Chih-en Calls for Opportunities for Young People to Build Careers in Kaohsiung" 青年論壇談留才 柯志恩：讓青年都能在高雄發展 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Central News Agency.
  54. ↑ Fang, Chih-hsien (11 August 2022). "Ko Chih-en Responds to Questions About Father's and Husband's Investment in Telecommunications Company" 父親、丈夫投資3億成立電信公司 柯志恩：出資200萬及技術入股. Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  55. ↑ Wang, Yung-chao; Yeh, Chih-ming (15 September 2026). "Interview: The Ko Chih-en You Don't Know, From Teacher and Award-Winning Television Host to Legislator" 專訪｜你不知道的柯志恩！老師➡金鐘主持人➡作家➡立委　再戰高雄曝心聲. KNews (in Chinese (Taiwan)).