[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] The Real-name system for actors has been introduced in the Chinese drama industry, drawing attention.
Under the new rule, actors are required to use their legal names instead of the stage names they have used until now.
According to Chinese media outlets, including China.com, many popular actors were introduced under their legal names rather than their stage names in the program list for a "drama production announcement event" held by a major video platform on the 23rd.
As the actors' real names were revealed in the process, a hashtag reading "Many celebrities lost their stage names" also began circulating on Chinese SNS.
The background of this change is a joint notice titled "Notice on Standardizing Actor Credits for TV Dramas (Online Dramas)," issued by Chinese broadcasting and video industry groups.
The China Television Drama Production Industry Association, the China Online Audiovisual Program Service Association, and the China Television Drama Actors Association recently informed member companies of the principles for listing actors' names. According to the notice, actors must, in principle, use their legal names. Even when using a widely known stage name, they must be credited in the format "real name (stage name)." The use of only an English name or nickname is also restricted.
As a result, actors such as Song Jo-a, Jung Woo-hye, Im Ga-ryeon, Luo Yunxi, and Feng Shaofeng must now be credited under their legal names, including Son Beom-cheong, Jeong Ju-geol, Im Guk-cho, Luo Yi, and Feng Wei.
However, the measure does not apply to actors from Hong Kong.
In the Chinese entertainment industry, the move is being interpreted as an effort to reduce the so-called "ranking battles" culture.
Until now, disputes among fan communities have frequently broken out over who was listed first on posters or promotional materials, who was billed as the top lead, and who stood in the center at events.
Critics have long argued locally that such competition fuels hype and traffic battles rather than artistic quality, ultimately harming the health of the industry as a whole.
The trend in China's film and television market is also changing.
It has become harder than before to guarantee box-office or viewership success with only star power and a large production budget. Viewers are increasingly placing more importance on acting skills and the overall quality of a work than on the name of the star.
In fact, some popular actors recently said in public that their opportunities to appear in productions had decreased. Online, however, many responded coldly, saying, "If your acting is weak, it is only natural that the work dries up."
Chinese media outlets said the expanded use of real names is not merely a rule change, but a symbolic step that prompts celebrities to reflect on their original creative spirit and their basic responsibilities as actors.
One local critic argued, "What matters is not the name, but what kind of work you leave behind," adding, "In the end, what moves viewers is not a flashy stage name, but sincere acting and a well-made production."
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
