President Lai Presents the Hakka Contribution Awards on National Hakka Day, Full of Gratitude for Winners’ Lifelong Devotion

December 28 is National Hakka Day. President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai personally attended the 2025 Hakka Contribution Awards and Hakka Affairs Professional Medals Commendation Ceremony at The Grand Hotel Taipei. President Lai recounted in detail the achievements of the Special Contribution Award winners, including Yeh Chu-lan’s long-term dedication to the democracy movement and concern for public affairs, ever gentle and firm; Hsu Jen-shiu dedicated his youth to documenting the mountains and forests of Taiwan and founded The Society of Wilderness; Fred Him-san Chin has devoted his life to human rights and transitional justice in Taiwan; Chang Wei-an, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, has been deeply involved in Hakka language education for many years, bringing Hakka language and culture into schools and closer to society; and decades-long resident of Brazil Chang Yung-hsi is a highly respected leader in the overseas Chinese community and initiated fundraising to build the Hakka Residencial.

Premier Cho stated that in addition to cultivating Hakka culture within Taiwan, the Hakka policy also actively seeks global recognition. This includes the listing of Taiwanese Hakka cultural venues and the Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park among the top 100 tourist attractions, as well as the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative. All of these represent major efforts to foster the integration of Taiwan Hakka culture in the world. Gu Show-faye, Minister of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), said that the award winners not only have deep roots in the Hakka community, but their expertise and lifelong efforts belong to various domains such as democracy, environmental protection, and human rights. She encouraged everyone to continue to care about Taiwan’s present and future, forging ahead hand in hand.

This year saw 13 winners of the Hakka Contribution Award, while 84 earned the Hakka Affairs Professional Medal, spanning fields such as research, arts, public affairs, and social participation. Among them are winners of the Special Contribution Award: Yeh Chu-lan, Chairperson of the Grand Hotel; Hsu Jen-hsiu, Founder and Chairperson of The Society of Wilderness; Fred Him-san Chin, a long-time human rights activist; Chang Wei-an, winner of the Lifetime Contribution Award for his lifelong dedication to academic research; and Chang Yung-hsi, who promotes Hakka affairs in Brazil and around the world.

Other notable figures include Chang Han-pi, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Hakka Language and Social Sciences, National Central University, who has received various Outstanding Achievement Awards; Chung Chen-cheng, promoter of bilingual education; Chung Hsin-yi, researcher of the preservation of historical sites and old residences; Liao Yun-pan, screenwriter of the TV series Gold Leaf who has deeply studied the century-old history of Hakka villages; Wu Rung-shun, a representative scholar of Taiwanese ethnomusicology; Moonlight Mountain Magazine, a local publication in Meinong that supported the Meinong Anti-Reservoir Movement; Lai Yu-chiao, lead singer of the band ChuNoodle; and Peng Jun-yang, head of the Beipu Hsinchu Bayin Musical Troupe.