President of China’s Premier Drama Academy Surrenders to Anti-Graft Probe
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Hao Rong
The campaign to root out corruption in China’s arts and entertainment sector claimed a top academic figure Friday, as the country’s top graft buster announced an investigation into the president of the Central Academy of Drama.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement that Hao Rong, 54, is under investigation for suspected severe violations of discipline and law — a euphemism often used for corruption. The agency noted that Hao had turned himself in.
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- Hao Rong, president of the Central Academy of Drama, is under investigation for suspected severe violations of discipline and law, after turning himself in.
- His case is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign in China’s cultural sector, with recent probes into executives from several top arts institutions.
- Hao, president since 2018, has had a 34-year career at the academy, notably teaching the “Class of 96” featuring actors Zhang Ziyi and Liu Ye.
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Who’s Who
- Wuhan Tourism Group
- Wuhan Tourism Group recently formed a partnership with the Central Academy of Drama. They participated in a signing ceremony aboard a river cruise ship in Wuhan. The academy pledged to support local theater production and industrial upgrades as part of this collaboration.
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What Happened When
- 1991：
- Hao Rong enrolled as a student at the Central Academy of Drama.
- 1996：
- Hao Rong served as head teacher for the 'Class of 96', which later produced famous Chinese actors.
- 2004：
- Huang Dingyu, acting department head at the Central Academy of Drama, was detained in a scandal. Following Huang’s ouster, Hao Rong was promoted in the academy.
- November 2018：
- Hao Rong became president of the Central Academy of Drama.
- May 2025：
- Authorities announced an investigation into Liu Kuanren, former vice chairman of the Shaanxi provincial political advisory body and a musician by training.
- June 2025：
- Hao Rong highlighted the creation of a digital drama department in an interview.
- 2025-10 (late October 2025)：
- Hao Rong gave a speech during the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Central Academy of Drama.
- 2025-12-06：
- Hao Rong made his last public appearance in Wuhan, attending a signing ceremony for a partnership between the academy and Wuhan Tourism Group.
- 2025-12-07：
- Hao Rong was taken away by authorities at an airport in Wuhan.
- 2025-12-19：
- China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced an investigation into Hao Rong for suspected severe violations of discipline and law.
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