Former Examination Minister Lin Chia-cheng dies at 73

Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) Lin Chia-cheng (林嘉誠), who served as Taiwan's examination minister between 2004 and 2008, has died aged 73, Soochow University's Department of Sociology said in a statement announcing its former professor's passing.

No cause of death or the specific date of his passing was released by the department.

According to the statement issued on Monday, Lin was a professor in the department for two decades from 1981 to 2004 -- though he served in government during the last seven years of that time -- before becoming examination minister during the second term of former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

During his tenure, Lin carried out various reforms, including issuing a white paper covering examination guidelines for underprivileged and underrepresented groups such as the LGBTQ community, Taiwan's Indigenous population, and people with disabilities.

He also initiated the publication of Taiwan's National Elite magazine and was the first examination minister to promote online registration for national exams and have academics participate in discussions on the examination system.

Lin's achievements made him a core member of Chen's government and also earned the respect of other local politicians, such as former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who recruited Lin to serve as the convener of his consulting team during his 2014 mayoral campaign.

Lin was no stranger to serving the capital city, having been named by Chen during his stint as Taipei mayor to head Taipei's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission before subsequently serving as deputy mayor of the city between 1997 and 1998.

Then, after Chen was elected president in 2000, he had Lin lead the Cabinet-level Development and Evaluation Commission, a position Lin held before becoming examination minister.

Lin's final opportunity to get involved in politics was in 2019 when he was approached by Ko to help the Taipei mayor with a possible presidential bid.

Lin turned down Ko's invitation, citing his age.