[2] He served in the Republic of China Army as a member of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion,[2][3] and graduated from National Chung Cheng University with a bachelor's degree in labor relations and earned his master's degree in economics from National Cheng Kung University.

[8] Yu contested the 2018 local elections, winning a seat on the Nantou County Council representing the multi-member fourth district.

[11] Yu was considered a potential candidate for the 2023 Nantou by-election before the Kuomintang called in Lin Ming-chen.

[14][15] His campaign was backed by Nantou magistrate Hsu Shu-hua and performed well in the townships of Lugu and Zhushan.

[16] Yu also benefited from a split vote within the Pan-Green Coalition, as Chen had left the Democratic Progressive Party to mount an independent campaign.