CHINA

Corruption Probe Widens at China’s Top Drama School

Published: Feb. 13, 2026 1:40 a.m. GMT+8

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Chen Gang

A senior figure at China’s most prestigious drama school has surrendered to authorities, widening a corruption scandal that recently ensnared the institution’s president and signaling an intensifying crackdown on the country’s arts and entertainment sector.

Chen Gang, former dean of the acting department at the Central Academy of Drama, turned himself in on Thursday, according to Henan province’s anti-corruption agency. He is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law,” a phrase commonly used to denote corruption and political misconduct.

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Explore the story in 30 seconds

Chen Gang, ex-dean at China’s Central Academy of Drama, surrendered to authorities for "serious violations of discipline and law," facing a corruption probe.
The case follows a recent investigation into academy president Hao Rong and expands ongoing anti-corruption efforts in China’s arts and entertainment sector.
Multiple top arts institutions and officials, including from the Chinese National Academy of Arts and conservatories, have been targeted since 2025.

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What Happened When

2004：: Then-acting-department dean Huang Dingyu was arrested on suspicion of rape after a high-profile sexual-assault scandal involving students.

2012：: Liu Kuanren, a former official at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music and former head of the Shaanxi Department of Culture, is indicated as the highest-ranking arts official to fall since this year.

2014：: Chen Gang directed the comedy film 'When a Peking Family Meets Aupair.'

January 2016：: Chen Gang began serving as dean of the acting department at the Central Academy of Drama.

April 2024：: Chen Gang ended his term as dean of the acting department at the Central Academy of Drama.

2025：: Chen Gang stepped down from all administrative posts but remained a professor and doctoral adviser.

December 7, 2025：: Hao Rong, president of the Central Academy of Drama, was taken away by authorities at an airport in Wuhan.

December 19, 2025：: China’s top anti-graft body announced that Hao Rong was under investigation and that he had surrendered.

Late 2025 and early 2026：: Disciplinary measures were announced against officials from the Harbin Conservatory of Music, the Beijing Film Academy, the Central Conservatory of Music, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts.