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Koo Hsien-jung

1866 – 1937

Japanese politician

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About Koo Hsien-jung

Lived 1866 – 1937 (aged 71). Koo Hsien-jung was a Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese businessperson and politician.

Koo Hsien-jung (; Japanese: ; Romaji: Ko Ken’ei; 18 March 1866 – 9 December 1937) was a Taiwanese businessman and politician who enjoyed strong links to the colonial administration of Taiwan under Japanese rule. He founded the Koos Group of companies, the largest business group in Taiwan.

Koo was a businessman at the time of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in which Qing dynasty China ceded Taiwan to Japan. When the Japanese forces arrived in Taiwan in 1895, Koo initiated contact with the Japanese forces in Keelung and urged them to enter Taipei to restore order.

Koo's close links to the Japanese allowed him both to pursue a successful political career (he became the first Taiwanese to be appointed by the emperor to the House of Peers of Japan, in 1934) and to build a collection of businesses that formed the nucleus of today's Koos Group of companies.

Koo had four concubines, eight sons and four daughters. His fifth son, Koo Chen-fu, inherited control of his father's business and served as the negotiator for Taiwan during the Wang–Koo summit. His eighth son, Koo Kwang-ming, became a leader of the Taiwan Independence movement. His grandson is Richard Koo, an economist specializing in balance sheet recessions.

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Important facts

Birth century
Positions held
Member of the House of Peers
Awards
Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class; Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class; Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain
Also known as
Gu Xianrong, Ko Hian-eng, Koo Hian-ing

Family & relationships

Child
Koo Chen-fu
Child
Koo Kwang-ming

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Koo Hsien-jung's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Koo Hsien-jung?

Japanese politician (1866-1937)

When was Koo Hsien-jung born?

Koo Hsien-jung was born on 18 March 1866 in Lukang Township.

When did Koo Hsien-jung die?

Koo Hsien-jung died on 9 December 1937 in Setagaya.

What was Koo Hsien-jung's occupation?

Koo Hsien-jung was a businessperson and politician.

What nationality was Koo Hsien-jung?

Koo Hsien-jung was Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Koo Hsien-jung

· Wikidata: Q698083

· DBpedia: Koo Hsien-jung

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Koo Hsien-jung. https://biography.guide/koo-hsien-jung/

MLA: "Koo Hsien-jung." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/koo-hsien-jung/.

Chicago: "Koo Hsien-jung." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/koo-hsien-jung/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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