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Asian ObituariesAugust 25 - September 1

Taiwan

Taiwan Obituaries

Taiwan's auto industry ‘Iron Lady'

Wu Shun-wen was a legend in the Taiwanese automobile industry and one of the island's wealthiest women, says Agence France-Presse. Also called Vivian, she died of heart and lung failure at 94. As chairwoman of Yulon Group Wu was known as the Iron Lady of the auto industry, having taken over the business after the death of her husband Yen Ching-ling in 1981, says Bloomberg. Born in Jiangsu province, Wu and Yen moved to Taiwan in 1948, says AFP. There they founded Tai Yuen Textile Co, "which under her management developed into the nation's leading textile company." In 1953, Yen founded Yue Loong motor company, which began assembling cars under licence from Nissan in the 1960s. In 1986, the company rolled out Taiwan's first locally designed car in a six-year project that cost around $150 million. The company, which changed its name to Yulon in 1992, continues to assemble cars for Nissan and General Motors in Taiwan. Wu retired as chairwoman last year and was succeeded by her son.

 







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Taiwan Obituaries

Taiwan's auto industry ‘Iron Lady'

Wu Shun-wen was a legend in the Taiwanese automobile industry and one of the island's wealthiest women, says Agence France-Presse. Also called Vivian, she died of heart and lung failure at 94. As chairwoman of Yulon Group Wu was known as the Iron Lady of the auto industry, having taken over the business after the death of her husband Yen Ching-ling in 1981, says Bloomberg. Born in Jiangsu province, Wu and Yen moved to Taiwan in 1948, says AFP.

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South Korea Obituaries

Bankruptcy drove actor to suicide

The end of South Korean actor-turned-businessman Ahn Jae-hwan's life reads like one of the TV dramas he starred in. It is believed the 36-year-old Tears of Diamonds star took his own life after mounting pressure from investors became unbearable, says Bae Ji-sook in The Korea Times. After disappearing for 15 days, Ahn was found in his car, along with the ashes of two charcoal briquettes burned on an iron plate, a common method of suicide in Japan and South Korea.

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