Author and media personality Peng Ko (彭歌), whose birth name is Yao Peng (姚朋), passed away on June 30 at the age of 100. Upon hearing this news, Minister of Culture Li Yuan mourns deeply, commending Peng’s writing for capturing historic moments and reflecting societal concerns with a journalistic sensibility.
Born in 1926 in Tianjin, China, Peng relocated to Taiwan in 1949 and later earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from National Chengchi University (國立政治大學). He subsequently completed Master’s degree programs in both Journalism and Library Science at Southern Illinois University in the United States.
Dedicated to journalism and literature, Peng held multiple prominent roles throughout his career. Notably, he served as vice director and chief editor of Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News (臺灣新生報), director and chief writer of Central Daily News (中央日報), and president of the Hong Kong Times (香港時報), as well as the head of the Taipei Chinese Center (中華民國筆會).
Peng’s body of work spans novels, literary criticism, and translation, often depicting the fate of individuals and society during times of upheaval. A strong advocate of humanitarian values, he was honored with several prestigious accolades, including the National Award for Arts, the Sun Yat-sen Literary and Art Award, and the Ministry of Education Arts Award.
In addition to his writing, Peng actively promoted journalism and library science, contributing to the academic journal “Journalism Research (新聞學研究)” and authoring the book “The Reservoir of Knowledge (知識的水庫).” He also translated influential works such as Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power of Positive Thinking” and Richard Bach’s “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” His translations received wide acclaim and enriched the literary landscape for Taiwanese readers.