{{Short description|Taiwanese lawyer}} {{family name hatnote|Lien|lang=Chinese}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lien Sheng-wen | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-tw|連勝文}}}} | honorific_suffix = | image = Sean Lien at CTS TV Production Building main entrance (14856206412) (cropped).jpg | caption = Lien in 2014 | term_start = October 30, 2021 | term_end = | predecessor = | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|February 3, 1970}} | birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | relations = Lien Chan (father)<br />Fang Yu (mother)<br />Lien Chen-tung (grandfather)<br />Lian Heng (great-grandfather)<br />Arlene Lien (sister) | party = Kuomintang| | education = {{no wrap|Fu Jen Catholic University}} (LLB)<br />{{no wrap|Columbia University (LLM, JD)}} | module = {{Infobox Chinese | embed = yes | child = yes | s = 连胜文 | t = 連勝文 | p = Lián Shèngwén | poj = Liân Sèng-bûn }} | office = Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang | alongside = Huang Min-hui, Andrew Hsia | president = Eric Chu }}
'''Lien Sheng-wen''' ({{lang-zh|t=連勝文|s=|p=|poj=Liân Sèng-bûn|first=t}}; born February 3, 1970), also known by his English name '''Sean Lien''', is a Taiwanese lawyer who has been vice chairman of the Kuomintang since 2021 alongside Huang Min-hui and Andrew Hsia. He is co-founder of Evenstar Capital and previously served as chairman of the Taipei Smart Card Corporation, the company which operates EasyCard.
==Early life and education==
According to some sources, Lien was born in the United States of America;<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 March 2000 |title=Editorial: Fathers of the nation? - Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2000/03/09/0000027208}}</ref> others indicate that he was born in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wei |first1=Katherine |title=Sean Lien embarks on a sacred quest to serve all in his beloved Taipei City |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2014/11/10/421403/Sean-Lien.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923234819/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2014/11/10/421403/Sean-Lien.htm |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015 |publisher=The China Post}}</ref> He is the eldest son of Lien Fang Yu and Lien Chan, who served as the Chairman of the Kuomintang party and was the Vice President of Taiwan. He is the grandson of Lien Chen-tung,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Yun-ping|title=DPP targets the Lien family's wealth|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/12/30/2003085660|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=30 December 2003}}</ref> and the great-grandson of Lien Heng.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ku|first1=Er-teh|title=The book that built the Lien family|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/02/06/2003097679|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=6 February 2004}}</ref> He has a brother and two sisters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Li|first1=Lauly|title=Lien Hui-hsin's prosecution deferred for one year|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/07/12/412173/Lien-Hui-hsins.htm|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=China Post|date=12 July 2014|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024153101/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/07/12/412173/Lien-Hui-hsins.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Yiu|first1=Cody|title=DPP steps up pressure on Lien to explain his wealth|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/01/03/2003086169|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=3 June 2004}}</ref> He is married to Patty Tsai.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|last2=Loa|first2=Lok-sin|title=Sean Lien's wife giving up Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/11/13/2003604303|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=13 November 2014}}</ref>
Lien graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University in with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1992, then completed advanced studies in the United States at Columbia University in New York City. He was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Columbia Law School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mo |first1=Yan-chih |date=9 April 2009 |title=DPP pans EasyCard boss for taking study leave in US |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/04/09/2003440611 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=The Taipei Times |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="TCP">{{cite news|last1=Hung|first1=Joe|title=Taipei mayor race has more at stake|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2014/11/10/421435/Taipei-mayor.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113081547/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2014/11/10/421435/Taipei-mayor.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2014|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=China Post|date=10 November 2014}}</ref> While at Columbia, Lien was classmates with Hsiao Bi-khim.<ref>{{Cite web |last=民間全民電視公司 |date=2023-11-22 |title=不畏中國學生打壓 蕭美琴堅持在哥大辦台灣攤位：連勝文有來捧場 |url=https://www.ftvnews.com.tw/news/detail/2023B22W0146 |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=民視新聞網 |language=zh-Hant}}</ref>
==Early career== Lien served in a senior management position at GE's Asia Pacific Capital Fund II<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hong|first1=Caroline|title='I do not work with China': Lien Chan|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/12/02/2003213407|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=2 December 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Chung|first1=Lawrence|title=Taiwan mayoral challengers take fight for votes to KMT strongholds|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1624035/taiwan-mayoral-challengers-take-fight-votes-kmt-strongholds|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=25 October 2014}}</ref> and as a vice president with an Investment Banking Group in Taipei. He is co-founder and senior advisor to the Hong Kong investment company Evenstar Capital.<ref>{{cite news|title=Legislator disputes Sean Lien claim on leaving Evenstar|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2588884|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=Taiwan News|date=8 October 2014|archive-date=18 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018115813/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2588884|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Sean Lien J.D. |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=2855524&privcapId=2855474&previousCapId=2855474&previousTitle=Asia%20Pacific%20Capital%20(HK)%20Limited |title=Sean Lien: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2014-06-23}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Political career==
In 2008, Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-pin appointed Lien as chairman of Taipei Smart Card Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/08/22/2003421051|title=Hau appoints KMT's Sean Lien EasyCard board member - Taipei Times|date=22 August 2008}}</ref> Lien resigned as Chairman of EasyCard Corporation at the end of 2009, citing health reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2010/05/07/255446/Sean-Lien.htm |title=Sean Lien resigns from EasyCard Corp. Chair - the China Post |access-date=2014-12-14 |archive-date=2015-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230334/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2010/05/07/255446/Sean-Lien.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Assessments of his performance during this brief tenure differ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/01/11/2003581055|title=Defamation lawsuit filed by Sean Lien over EasyCard issue - Taipei Times|date=11 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=12707 |title=CommonWealth Magazine |website=english.cw.com.tw |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214051050/http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=12707 |archive-date=2014-12-14}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/04/09/203534/Sean-Lien.htm |title=Sean Lien says he's giving up six weeks pay - the China Post |access-date=2014-12-14 |archive-date=2014-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214050732/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/04/09/203534/Sean-Lien.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
During the municipal election on 26 November 2010, Lien was shot in the face at close range while stumping for Chen Hung-yuan, a New Taipei City Council candidate in the Yonghe District of New Taipei City.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chung|first1=Lawrence|title=Sean Lien shooting not staged, prosecutors say|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/733597/sean-lien-shooting-not-staged-prosecutors-say|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=17 December 2010}}</ref> Lien's wound was minor and he recovered quickly.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101207064137/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LL07Ad02.html Asia Times]</ref> Lien disagrees with Taiwan judiciary's conclusion that he was shot by mistake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/10/25/2003546026|title = Gunman who shot Sean Lien handed life sentence - Taipei Times|date = 25 October 2012}}</ref> [[File:馬英九總統為連勝文拉票.jpg|thumb|KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou endorsing Sean Lien for Taipei Mayor in 2014 ROC local election.]] On February 24, 2014, Lien announced his campaign for Taipei City mayor election;{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} on April 19, 2014, he won the KMT mayoral primary.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sean Lien wins KMT primary for Taipei mayoral election|url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140420000092&cid=1101|access-date=13 November 2014|agency=Central News Agency|publisher=Want China Times|date=20 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113094755/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140420000092&cid=1101|archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> On November 29, Lien lost the race to independent candidate Ko Wen-je.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/11/taiwan-pm-quits-after-election-losses-20141129122818283151.html|title = Taiwan PM quits after election losses|access-date = Nov 30, 2014|publisher = Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vote2014.nat.gov.tw/en/TC/n100000000000000.html |title=2014 Local Elections |access-date=2014-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220092440/http://vote2014.nat.gov.tw/en/TC/n100000000000000.html |archive-date=2014-12-20 }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center" |- ! colspan="7" width=620px|2014 Taipei City Mayoralty Election Result |- !width=35|No. !width=180| Candidate !width=120| Party !width=75| Votes !width=75| Percentage !width=49| |- |1||Chen Ju-pin (陳汝斌)||Self Help Party||style="border-left:4px solid #C0C0C0;" align="right"|1,624 |align="right"|0.11% |align="center"| |- |2||Chao Yen-ching (趙衍慶)||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|15,898 |align="right"|1.06% |align="center"| |- |3||Lee Hong-hsin (李宏信)||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|2,621 |align="right"|0.18% |align="center"| |- |4||Yong C. Chen (陳永昌)||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|1,908 |align="right"|0.13% |align="center"| |- |5||Neil Peng||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|8,080 |align="right"|0.54% |align="center"| |- |6||Sean Lien||KMT||style="border-left:4px solid #000099;" align="right"|609,932 |align="right"|40.82% |align="center"| |- |7||Ko Wen-je||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|853,983 |align="right"|57.16% |<div align="center">20px</div> |}
==See also== * Lien Chan
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{facebook|seanlien2014}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lien, Sean}} Category:1970 births Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Lien Heng family Category:Living people Category:Kuomintang politicians in Taiwan Category:Taiwanese politicians of Hakka descent Category:Fu Jen Catholic University alumni Category:General Electric people Category:Taiwanese chief executives Category:Taiwanese company founders Category:20th-century Taiwanese businesspeople Category:21st-century Taiwanese businesspeople