Taiwan’s New 1st Lady to Keep Her Job

“There are many Mrs. Mas but there is only one Christine Chow. I will keep my job even after I become first lady,” said the wife of Taiwan’s new president.

Chow drew much attention when she announced she would keep her job after the inauguration of her husband, Ma Ying-jeou, as the 12th president of Taiwan. She has been working as head of legal affairs at Mega Financial Holding Company, a major Taiwanese banking group, for 26 years.

“My job is legal consulting and does not require day-to-day management or dealing with customers,” she said. “So I don’t think that being first lady will have a significant influence (on my job).”

According to the Taiwanese daily Ryenheo, she said, “If my status conflicts with the interests of the company, I will consider quitting my job.” No first lady in Taiwanese history has kept her job while her husband has been in office.

A quiet woman who wears humble clothes, Chow is as popular as President-elect Ma. She has never worn earrings or designer clothes and does not do make-up.

On her first day as the president-elect’s wife Monday, media captured her in blue jeans waiting for a bus while listening to her MP3 player. The only difference was that one male and two female security guards accompanied her.

Taiwanese media said Chow asked her colleagues to call her director, not first lady.

orionha@donga.com