The Story

Written by Peter Li-Chang Kuo ( Chinese ) For Taiwanese people, May 20 is " Presidential Inauguration Day "—filled with political atmosphere, not at all romantic, unlike in Mainland China , where young couples exchange gifts and celebrate with a sense of ritual. To me, May 20 is a day that witnessed a miracle—this was the pivotal moment when I brought "Barbie" back to life, helping tens of thousands of people keep their jobs, and creating a track record in socially responsible investing. Fig 1: Barbie in her storm age (1982~1984) There are two May 20s that stand out in my memory: May 20, 1978, and May 20, 1984. Let’s start with 1978: I went through intense political infighting in the military, yet managed to survive and emerge victorious. From being a platoon leader in the 310th Brigade, I was transferred to the 104th Division as an acting inspector. At the division headquarters, I hosted a small celebration for the inauguration of President Chiang Ching...

  Written by Peter Li-Chang Kuo ( Chinese ) “ Caring Technology ” was one of the five major industries we advocated for in the 1980s as part of our Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) initiatives. The aim was to help the elderly live healthily, happily, and with dignity, their faces glowing with smiles like the sun—thus the term “ Caring Technology .” According to Taiwan 's National Development Council, in 1985, the population aged 65 and over was approximately 428,335, out of a total population of around 19,000,000—about “ 2.25% .” As of March 2025, Taiwan ’s elderly population has grown to 4,539,904, accounting for “ 19.42% ” of the total—an alarming contrast. The World Health Organization defines a society with 14% of its population aged 65 and over as an “ aged society ,” and 20% as a “ super-aged society .” Taiwan became an aged society in 2018 and is expected to enter a super-aged society this year (2025). Taiwan ’s aging population is increasing at a rapid pace—...