# Sean Lien

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{{Short description|Taiwanese lawyer}}
{{family name hatnote|[Lien](/source/Lian_(surname))|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](/source/Taipei), Taiwan
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = 
| relations           = [Lien Chan](/source/Lien_Chan) (father)<br />[Fang Yu](/source/Fang_Yu) (mother)<br />[Lien Chen-tung](/source/Lien_Chen-tung) (grandfather)<br />[Lian Heng](/source/Lian_Heng) (great-grandfather)<br />[Arlene Lien](/source/Arlene_Lien) (sister)
| party               = [Kuomintang](/source/Kuomintang)|
| education           = {{no wrap|[Fu Jen Catholic University](/source/Fu_Jen_Catholic_University)}} ([LLB](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws))<br />{{no wrap|[Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) ([LLM](/source/Master_of_Laws), [JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))}}
| 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](/source/Vice_Chairman_of_the_Kuomintang)
| alongside           = [Huang Min-hui](/source/Huang_Min-hui), [Andrew Hsia](/source/Andrew_Hsia)
| president           = [Eric Chu](/source/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](/source/Vice_Chairman_of_the_Kuomintang) since 2021 alongside [Huang Min-hui](/source/Huang_Min-hui) and [Andrew Hsia](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Lien_Fang_Yu) and [Lien Chan](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Taipei_Times)|date=30 December 2003}}</ref> and the great-grandson of [Lien Heng](/source/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](/source/Fu_Jen_Catholic_University) in with a [Bachelor of Laws](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws) (LL.B.) in 1992, then completed advanced studies in the United States at [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). He was awarded an [Eisenhower Fellowship](/source/Eisenhower_Fellowship) and earned a [Master of Laws](/source/Master_of_Laws) (LL.M.) and a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) (J.D.) from [Columbia Law School](/source/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](/source/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](/source/China_Post)|date=10 November 2014}}</ref> While at Columbia, Lien was classmates with [Hsiao Bi-khim](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/2010_Republic_of_China_municipal_elections) on 26 November 2010, Lien was shot in the face at close range while stumping for Chen Hung-yuan, a [New Taipei City Council](/source/New_Taipei_City_Council) candidate in the [Yonghe District](/source/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](/source/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](/source/2014_Republic_of_China_local_elections);{{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](/source/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](/source/2014_Taiwan_local_elections) Result 
|-
!width=35|No.
!width=180| Candidate
!width=120| Party
!width=75| Votes
!width=75| Percentage
!width=49| 
|-
|1||[Chen Ju-pin](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Neil_Peng)||Independent||style="border-left:4px solid #000000;" align="right"|8,080
|align="right"|0.54%
|align="center"|
|-
|6||Sean Lien||[KMT](/source/Kuomintang)||style="border-left:4px solid #000099;" align="right"|609,932
|align="right"|40.82%
|align="center"|
|-
|7||[Ko Wen-je](/source/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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sean Lien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Lien) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Lien?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.