Wu was born on October 12, 1948, in Kaohsiung. He graduated from National Chung Hsing University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in agricultural economics in 1971 and completed military service from 1971 to 1973 in the Republic of China Army, attaining the rank of second lieutenant. He then returned to National Chung Hsing University and obtained his Master of Science (M.S.) in agricultural economics in 1975. From 1975 to 1977, he was an assistant researcher in the university's department of agricultural economics before becoming a lecturer in the department in 1977.[1]
In 1982, Wu went to the United States to complete doctoral studies at Ohio State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics and rural sociology in 1986 under professors David E. Hahn, Robert E. Jacobson, and Cameron S. Thraen on a scholarship provided by the National Science Council.[2] His doctoral dissertation was titled, "The Demand Analysis for Four Major Milk and Dairy Products in the United States: An Application of Logistic Microdata Approach."[1]