Introduction
Chen Ding-Nan (Chinese: 陳定南; pinyin: Chén Dìngnán) (September 29, 1943 – November 5, 2006) was a Taiwanese politician.
Entry into politics
As a Yilan County native, Chen received a bachelor's degree in Law from the National Taiwan University in 1966. After graduation Chen ran various business in Yilan. After the Kaohsiung incident, Chen became active in politics as he started to participate in the tangwai movement.
Chen was elected as the Magistrate of Yilan County in 1981 and became the first non-Kuomintang Yilan County Magistrate. During his term Chen accumulated accolades for his fine administration and was re-elected again in 1985.
After his second term ended Chen ran for a seat in the Legislative Yuan in the Yilan County electoral district and won 4 consecutive times (1989, 1992, 1995 and 1998) until appointed as the Minister of Justice on May 20, 2000 by then just-elected President Chen Shui-bian.
Meantime, he also ran unsuccessfully for the Governor of Taiwan Province in 1994 and was defeated by James Soong. Originally an independent, Chen joined the Democratic Progressive Party in 1993 and stayed with the party until his death.
He served as Minister of Justice in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration from 2000 until January 31, 2005. In late 2005 he campaigned for the Yilan County magistrate again but was defeated by the Kuomintang's Lu Kuo-hua (呂國華).
Death and legacy
Since April 2006, Chen's health condition worsened and was frequently hospitalized for advanced lung cancer. He died in the National Taiwan University Hospital on November 5, 2006, aged 63.
Chen was known as Mr. Clean (陳青天) as he fought against corruption and established the Black Gold Investigation Center. The Chen Ding-nan Foundation, established to commemorate Chen, proposes to build a memorial hall for him in his hometown Yilan.