After graduating and spending time as a reporter and chief writer for the China Times, Wu soon made his move into politics, being elected for the first of two terms as a Taipei City councilor at age 25, elected for another two terms as Nantou County magistrate at 33, and appointed mayor of Kaohsiung at age 42 before becoming the first popularly elected holder of that same post.
其後他擔任中國時報記者、主筆，並迅速在政壇嶄露頭角，25 歲當選台北市議員（兩屆）、33 歲當選南投縣長（兩任），42 歲出任官派高雄市長和第一任高雄民選市長，仕途一路順遂。