Taipei: The office of Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei has firmly denied allegations that he misused public funds to host gatherings at a restaurant co-founded by him, clarifying that he personally covered the expenses.

According to Focus Taiwan, the allegations were brought to light by a report from Mirror Media, which claimed that Minister Kuo frequently organized official meetings at MD Cuisine, a venue in Taipei’s Da’an District. This establishment is owned by Topco Scientific, a company Kuo co-founded in 1990. The report highlighted a particular meeting with officials from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), where the cost of food and souvenirs reportedly surpassed NT$220,000 (US$7,310).

The media report further suggested a conflict of interest, noting that although Kuo divested his shares in Topco Scientific upon assuming his ministerial position, his son remains a board member, and his wife has investments in a major shareholder of Topco. In defense, Kuo’s office at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) released a statement asserting that Kuo had “concrete evidence” of personally funding the meals, stressing his adherence to maintaining a clear line between personal and public responsibilities.

The statement also clarified that neither Kuo nor his family members have occupied formal roles in Anyong Freshmart, the company under Topco Scientific that operates the named restaurant. The choice of venue was based purely on logistical convenience and availability of private rooms for meetings, as stated by Kuo’s office.

Further addressing the context of the allegations, the report mentioned ongoing media speculation about a potential Cabinet reshuffle by President Lai Ching-te, which was dismissed as “false information” by a Cabinet spokesperson. Premier Cho Jung-tai supported Kuo by noting that he had already provided a comprehensive explanation of the situation and invited any further inquiries to be directed to Kuo himself.