Ann Kao

Ann Kao is a Taiwanese politician and former engineer, currently serving as the Mayor of Hsinchu. Born in Taipei in 1984, she began her career in the tech industry, working for Foxconn, before entering politics in 2020 as a member of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP). Kao was elected to the Legislative Yuan that year, and in 2022 she became the mayor of Hsinchu, a position she has held with interruptions due to legal challenges.

Kao's tenure has been marked by significant controversy. In 2024, she was suspended from office amid corruption allegations, but she was acquitted of the main charges in December 2025 and reinstated. Her legal battles continue, with a plagiarism case currently under retrial. Despite these setbacks, Kao remains a polarizing but prominent figure in Taiwanese politics, known for her engineering background and rapid rise. [edit]

Ann Kao was born on January 25, 1984, in Taipei, Taiwan. Details about her early childhood and family life are scarce, but she pursued higher education at National Chung Hsing University, where she earned a degree. After graduating, Kao entered the technology sector, taking a position at Foxconn, the multinational electronics manufacturer. Her work as an engineer there gave her a firsthand look at the tech industry, which would later inform her political platform.

Kao's transition to politics was not immediate. She spent several years in the corporate world, but by 2020, she decided to enter public service. Running as a candidate for the Taiwan People's Party, a young political party founded by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, she won a seat in the Legislative Yuan. This marked the beginning of her political career. [edit]

Ann Kao's political career took off in 2020 when she was elected to the Legislative Yuan as a member of the Taiwan People's Party. Her rapid rise continued in 2022 when she successfully ran for Mayor of Hsinchu, a key city in northern Taiwan. She assumed office on December 25, 2022, succeeding Chen Chang-hsien.

However, her tenure was soon overshadowed by legal troubles. In December 2022, her offices were searched in connection with corruption allegations, and she and her boyfriend Lee Chung-ting were questioned. On July 26, 2024, she was suspended from her mayoral duties and sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for embezzling assistant fees. The Taiwan People's Party also expelled her. Kao appealed, and on December 16, 2025, the High Court acquitted her of the embezzlement charges, reducing her sentence to six months. The Hsinchu City government then applied for her reinstatement, and she was approved to return as mayor on December 17, 2025.

As of 2026, Kao is back in office, but her legal battles are not over. On April 17, 2026, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court remanded her plagiarism case to the district court for retrial. This case relates to her master's thesis, which was alleged to be plagiarized. Kao has denied the allegations, and the retrial is ongoing. [edit]

Ann Kao is perceived as a pragmatic and tech-savvy politician, a trait that sets her apart in Taiwan's political landscape. Her background as an engineer at Foxconn lends her credibility on technology and innovation issues, and she often speaks about the importance of the semiconductor industry to Taiwan's economy. Her public persona is that of a no-nonsense administrator who values efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

However, her image has been tarnished by the corruption and plagiarism allegations. Supporters view her as a victim of political persecution, while critics see her as a symbol of the TPP's internal problems. Kao's social media presence, including her YouTube channel, allows her to communicate directly with voters, bypassing traditional media. She is known for her direct, sometimes blunt, communication style, which resonates with younger voters but can alienate others. [edit]

Ann Kao commands a distinct and polarized sphere of attention, primarily within Taiwan's political landscape rather than as a global cultural icon. Her visibility spikes during legislative sessions, municipal administration, and high-stakes legal proceedings, creating a wave of interest that is intense but geographically concentrated. Despite this focused engagement, she does not currently hold a placement in the published iFANN Global Top 1,000 rankings or any scope-specific top-100 lists. The iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated her profile, yet she remains unranked in the current global hierarchy, indicating that while her name recognition is significant among voters and policy observers, it has not crossed the threshold for a numerical standing in the worldwide celebrity index. Consequently, there is no formal fandom name documented for Ann Kao. Unlike entertainment figures who cultivate organized fanbases with specific collective identities, her supporters are defined by political alignment rather than a shared fan culture. There are no self-identified groups using a unique moniker to describe their following, nor are there organized fan campaigns typical of pop stardom, such as birthday billboards or streaming drives. Her audience interacts through electoral participation and political discourse, lacking the ritualistic elements found in celebrity fandoms.[edit]

Among her supporters, Ann Kao is affectionately known as "Big Sister Ann" (安姐), a nickname reflecting her approachable demeanor despite her often serious public role. A former engineer at Foxconn, she frequently leverages her technical background to discuss semiconductor policy and innovation. She maintains a robust digital presence with a YouTube channel boasting over 22,000 subscribers and more than 2.1 million views, where she shares insights on tech governance. In her personal life, hiking serves as a vital method for mental clarity. Notably, her birthday on January 25 coincides with the founding date of the Taiwan People's Party, an organization she joined in 2019. She also credits the science fiction series Star Trek with inspiring her fascination with exploration and future technologies. Recent years have added complex layers to her public narrative through verified legal events. In December 2025, the High Court acquitted her of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months commutable to a fine, which led to her reinstatement as Mayor of Hsinchu shortly after. Additionally, she survived a recall vote in July 2025, and in April 2026, her plagiarism case was remanded for retrial after an appellate court overturned a previous ruling.[edit]

Ann Kao is in a long-term relationship with Lee Chung-ting, a businessman. The couple has been together since before her political career, and Lee has been a supportive presence throughout her legal battles. They are not married, and Kao has not publicly discussed plans for marriage. Kao is reportedly close to her parents, who live in Taipei, and she has a younger brother who works in the tech industry. She has no children.

Kao has described her family as "the anchor" of her life, and she often credits them for keeping her grounded amid the pressures of public office. She has not shared many details about her family life, preferring to keep that aspect private. [edit]

Ann Kao is associated with the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), a political party founded by Ko Wen-je, the former mayor of Taipei. She was a prominent member of the TPP before being expelled in 2024. Her boyfriend, Lee Chung-ting, has been a supportive figure throughout her career. Kao is also known to have ties to Foxconn, where she worked as an engineer, and to National Chung Hsing University, her alma mater. [edit]

Ann Kao has been in a long-term relationship with Lee Chung-ting, a businessman. The couple began dating in the early 2010s, before Kao entered politics. Lee has been a constant presence in her life, standing by her during her legal troubles. In December 2022, both were questioned by investigators as part of the corruption probe, but Lee was not charged. They are not married, and Kao has not publicly discussed engagement or wedding plans.

Prior to Lee, Kao had a few relationships during her university years, but she has not shared details publicly. As of 2026, Kao and Lee are still together, and they appear to be a committed couple. Their relationship has been a source of support for Kao, who has described Lee as her "rock." [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Ann Kao's net worth is estimated at $1 Million as of 2026. This financial standing is derived primarily from her salary as a public official, encompassing her tenure as a legislator and her current role as mayor. Prior to entering politics, she secured a comfortable income as an engineer at Foxconn, establishing a solid financial base before her career shift. She has not pursued major business ventures or commercial endorsements, keeping her wealth sources relatively narrow. However, her financial situation has faced pressure due to substantial legal fees incurred during her ongoing battles against corruption allegations and the subsequent plagiarism case. While her public sector salary is modest compared to private sector tech roles, her net worth has remained relatively stable over recent years. She has not disclosed real estate holdings or significant investment portfolios. Given the continuous nature of her legal costs, her total assets may have decreased slightly, though the precise impact remains outside public record. As of 2026, she continues to serve as mayor, ensuring her financial status remains a subject of public scrutiny.[edit]