Wang Shih-chien
Wang Shih-chien is a Taiwanese politician and businessman. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, Wang has served as a member of the Legislative Yuan representing Taipei City Constituency 2. He previously served on the Taipei City Council from 1998 to 2005 and was also a legislator from 2005 to 2008.
Early life and education
Wang Shih-chien was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 1, 1960. Both of his parents attended Japanese universities. His father, Wang Ming-te, was a member of the Chinese Communist Party at National Taiwan University who studied under Xie Xuehong. Ming-te was a successful financier who became a senior executive at the Bank of Taiwan. Wang Shih-chien's paternal grandfather was a businessman who sold scrap metal, steel bars, and cement. His maternal grandfather, Chang Jung-tsung, was a leader of the Taiwanese Cultural Association during Japanese rule who was executed in the February 28 incident.After graduating from, Wang studied applied mathematics at National Chung Hsing University, where he graduated with a B.S. degree. He then earned a Master of Science in applied chemistry from Chinese Culture University in 1992. He wrote his master's thesis, "Electrochemical studies of nickel Bis- with alkyl/aryl/allyl bromides and activated olefins in nonaqueous solvents", on the chemical compound Terpyridine. In college, he befriended Liu Yi-te and Lee I-yang, and defrayed his university expenses by playing and teaching the violin part-time.
Business career
After college, Wang entered the construction industry, where he partnered with steel and cement companies, and became the chairman of Richeng Construction Factory. His first independently completed construction project was in Tianmu district. He owns two subsidiary companies, Rih-cheng Xin Construction and Rih-cheng Construction Factory, both of which launched the "Rih-cheng e-home" project in Xizhi, with a total price of, and the "Rih-cheng Haikuo" project in Tamsui, with a total price of.Political career
Wang served on the Taipei City Council from 1998 to 2005. He was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2004, and served a single term until 2008. He contested the 2010 municipal elections, and returned to the Taipei City Council, representing the fourth constituency.He is often mocked by opponents and Internet communities for his resemblance to Chucky, a possessed doll. However, he has embraced this nickname and has stated, "It is my job to protect the interests of Taipei residents, so I would be happy to be their Chucky to scare the mayor, city officials and others in authority so they do not abuse their power."
Wang was given wide media exposure for losing a bet, in which he promised to jump into the sea if all eight of the Kuomintang's candidates in Taipei City won during the 2008 Taiwanese Legislative Elections. He ended up keeping his promise, accompanying 280 supporters to the sea and jumping into it from a jet ski. "Here I am. I did what I promised," he said after completing the jump.