At the two sessions in 2026, Jin Dong’s speech instantly ignited the Internet craze.
People's livelihood issues such as medical care and employment were flooding in, but his comment on the short drama instantly overshadowed all the focus. No one thought that this elite professional on the screen would actually hide his trump card for 33 years – far more shocking than any other character. For him, being an actor is just a part-time job that combines his passion. The real value lies in the concepts and actions he adheres to.
As soon as the two sessions in 2026 kicked off, media reporters surrounded Jin Dong and couldn't get through. This is not simply because he is an actor, but as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, every statement he makes goes straight to the core of the issue. When asked what he thought of the short play, Jin Dong spoke calmly, but his words were sonorous and powerful. He admitted that he had never seen short plays and did not think short plays could represent cultural exports overseas. At present, the short drama market is booming, with nearly 700 million domestic users, and Hengdian is even nicknamed a vertical store. Many artists have turned to short dramas to make quick profits with strong plots and fast pace.
Jin Dong's outspoken remarks have attracted criticism from many people who make money from short plays, saying that he is ruining their jobs. However, netizens stood up and praised him for finally seeing the cultural depth that the actor deserves. The controversy has not yet subsided, and reporters asked about the chaos of AI face-changing. Jin Dong frowned, his expression showing obvious anxiety. He admitted that this problem has been around for a long time. AI not only impacts the film and television industry, but also brings real fraud risks.
By 2026, AI face-changing and onomatopoeia technologies will be widely available without any barriers, and a mobile phone will be able to synthesize audio and video that is difficult to distinguish between real and fake. Many artists have encountered infringement, and cases of fake Jin Dong defrauding middle-aged and elderly fans are common. Artists such as Wen Zhengrong and Zhang Kaili have also encountered similar troubles. Jin Dong saw with his own eyes that ordinary people lost their money due to these scams, and his heart was heavy. Unlike most propaganda that only emphasizes staying away from scams, he made more practical suggestions:
Don’t just be afraid, you have to understand it first. He said that he is also learning AI and actively embracing new technologies. Only by understanding the technology can we distinguish authenticity and keep property safe. This suggestion quickly became popular on the Internet, with netizens praising it: Someone should have hit the nail on the head like this. This is not the first time Jin Dong has spoken out for AI face-changing. During the two sessions last year, he called for strengthening the control of AI technology and network platforms, promoting legislative constraints, and making the law a strict curse on AI.
As early as early March, at the opening of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress, Jin Dong's speech on new popular literature and art was on the hot search list. He called on young people, especially minors, not to be allowed to remain addicted to games and short videos. His speeches caused controversy time and time again, but Jin Dong never cared. He just expressed truthfully what he saw, heard, and researched.
Jin Dong is 50 years old this year. He was born in Jining, Shandong Province. He entered the entertainment industry at the age of 17. When he first entered the industry, he could only play small roles and quietly hone his acting skills. No one was optimistic about it, and no one knew that during those seemingly unknown years, he had quietly planned his main battlefield. Until he was around 40 years old, his role as Ming Lou in "The Pretender" made him famous overnight, and his role as He Han in "The First Half of My Life" made him a well-known national actor, popular all over the country.
The characters he portrays are always calm and upright, and he is dubbed by the audience as the spokesman for veteran cadres. After he became popular, people around him kept urging him to seize the opportunity to accept endorsements and appear on programs, so as to quickly monetize his traffic. But Jin Dong never wavered. He only filmed one or two movies a year and almost disappeared from the public eye the rest of the time. Few people know that in those years that seemed to disappear, he actually devoted himself to the causes that he truly cared about.
For him, acting has never been a tool for making a living, but a side job that combines his passion. He is not keen on hype, nor does he rely on variety shows to make quick money. He even decisively rejects the trend of live streaming to sell goods. This lack of gregariousness is not because he is pretending to be aloof, but because he no longer needs to prove himself as an actor. The calmness in front of the screen comes from the multiple confidences held in the hands behind the back.
Some netizens have seen Jin Dong in "Xinwen Lianbo". He has a neat suit and glasses on the bridge of his nose. He is elegant and calm. In the camera, he carefully read through the meeting materials, looking solemn and full of aura. This is not a cameo, but a real record of him attending an important meeting in an official capacity. Today, Jin Dong is no longer a simple actor, but a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He has been selected into the cultural and artistic circles since 2023 and has the right to participate in industry policy discussions.
As a member of the CPPCC, he never fulfills his duties in name only. In order to find out the truth, he visited 20 cities across the country, investigated 36 notary institutions, and finally compiled a detailed report of more than 100,000 words. His proposal to build a national will library met social needs and was highly recognized by the representatives of the Supreme People's Court. He is concerned about AI technology infringement and the standardized development of the film and television industry, and the proposal he submitted to resist the chaos of traffic supremacy has also received widespread attention. In 2024, Jin Dong was appointed as the leader of the China Coal Mine Art Troupe, a proper department-level cadre.
This position is by no means an honorary title, but carries the mission of inheriting literary and artistic classics and serving the grassroots people. After taking office, he personally planned a number of grassroots condolences performances, promoted the creation of the musical "The Pretender", and led the in-depth rural tour of the drama "The Taste of Warmth". He also brought classic dramas to more than 200 colleges and universities, allowing young people to have close contact with stage plays for the first time, making literature and art no longer limited to urban theaters, but truly reaching the grassroots.
In addition, Jin Dong is also a member of the Central Committee of the Democratic League and deputy chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Democratic League. This status allows his influence to transcend the entertainment industry and extend to a wider field. At the age of 49, he gained a new identity and was selected as a candidate for the 2025 Sannong Figure. In the past, most of the candidates were grassroots village cadres, agricultural science and technology experts or new farmers returning to their hometowns. However, Jin Dong was selected as a first-line artist, which is a breakthrough in itself. The elites in suits and ties on the screen took root in the Loess Plateau and worked for rural revitalization.
Jin Dong took the lead in establishing a rural literary and art talent incubation platform and invited senior artists in the group to provide free training for rural literary and art enthusiasts. Building bridges with art is the core competitiveness of his selection. The final list of winners of the 2025 Sannong Figures has not yet been announced, but for Jin Dong, whether he wins or not is no longer important, the recognition itself is precious enough.
In addition to being a well-known literary and artistic worker to the public, Jin Dong also has plans in the business field, but always maintains a low profile and pragmatism. His investments cover a variety of industries including information technology, hospitality and catering. In the entire entertainment industry, there are not many artists who take into account performance careers, institutional positions, and business investments at the same time. What is even more rare is that they can always keep a low profile.
Jin Dong did it not through hype, but through hard work step by step. In the entertainment industry dominated by traffic, having many fans and high popularity means the right to speak. However, he jumped out of this circle and focused his energy on serving the masses and promoting the development of the industry. This kind of dedication that is rooted in reality is more weighty than any commercial endorsements and variety show resources.
His existence has also made many artists begin to rethink: what is the true value of an artist. Artists who only know how to hype, lack professionalism, and avoid responsibilities will eventually be eliminated by the market. Only by focusing on polishing your works and assuming social responsibility can you remain popular for a long time.
Jin Dong has used 33 years of low-keyness and persistence to become a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. When the traffic bubble dissipates, those who can really stand firm are those who are both capable and responsible like him. Jin Dong like this deserves to be seen, but I don't know how many people in the mainland entertainment industry can keep up with him.
