The Rise and Trajectory of Taiwan’s Ko Wen-je: An Online Perspective

The rise and trajectory of Ko Wen-je, the founding chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party, a significant minority in the Legislative Yuan, has been spectacular. Based on Google Trends data as of 30 June 2025, this study presents a quantitative analysis of Ko’s political life. Specifically, this study traces Ko Wen-je’s rise to public attention in July 2006, his popularity during the 2014 and 2018 Taipei mayoral elections, his national ambitions in the 2024 presidential race, and his arrest in September 2024 pending trial. It also provides empirical evidence of his online momentum during the 2024 election—event-driven, youth-led, and responsive to election interest.