Lee Yung-te

Lee obtained his bachelor's degree in politics from National Chengchi University in 1976 and master's degree in communication from Stanford University in the United States in 1991.[1]

In 1987, while working for the Independence Evening Post, Lee and colleague Hsu Lu became the first Taiwanese journalists to visit China after martial law in Taiwan had been lifted, and the Chinese Civil War had ended.[2][3][4]

On 15 March 2005, Lee was appointed acting chairman of Hakka Affairs Council.[5][6] During his tenure, he organized the first Hakka Language Certification Exam in Taiwan. He also composed the first Hakka musical, My Daughter's Wedding and filmed a Hakka movie, 1895. In terms of music, he brought Hakka music into the National Concert Hall in Taipei and organized the first Hakka Expo in Taiwan.[7]

He was reappointed to the Hakka Affairs Council in April 2016,[8] serving until May 2020, when he was named minister of culture.[9] Lee stepped down from the Ministry of Culture in January 2023, to assume a minister without portfolio post.[10][11] In June 2023, Lee was named chairman of the Central News Agency.[2]

Lee is of Hakka ethnicity. He has two marriages. His second wife is the member of Legislative Yuan from Kaohsiung, Chiu Yi-ying. Lee and his second wife Chiu Yi-ying registered their marriage in April 2011 and held their wedding banquet on 5 January 2013 in Kaohsiung.[12] He and his first wife from previous marriage have a daughter born in 1988.