Cui Yongyuan

2.1. Birth and Family Background

Cui Yongyuan was born on February 20, 1963, in the Beichen District of Tianjin, China. He is ethnically Korean. Both of his parents served in the military. His registered domicile is in Qianhuaifu Village, Zhaoqiao Town, Wuyi County, Hengshui City, Hebei Province.

2.2. Schooling and University Education

When Cui Yongyuan was four years old, his family relocated to Beijing, where he received his primary and secondary education. He attended Liangxiang Elementary School, Fengtai No. 3 Primary School, and Beijing No.12 High School. After completing his secondary education, he enrolled in the Communication University of China, graduating in 1985.

3.1. Early Broadcasting Career

Upon graduating in 1985, Cui Yongyuan began his career at China Central Television (CCTV) as a reporter. In 1993, he played a pivotal role in the launch of CCTV's flagship news program, Oriental Horizon (東方時空_{Dōngfāng Shíkōng}^Chinese), contributing to its early development.

3.2. Rise to Prominence with 'Tell It Like It Is'

Cui Yongyuan gained widespread recognition and popularity starting in 1996 as the host of Tell It Like It Is (實話實說_{Shíhuà Shíshuō}^Chinese), a discussion program originally conceptualized as a Sunday supplement to Oriental Horizon. His distinctive hosting style, characterized by its relaxed and unscripted nature, marked a significant departure from the more rigid and traditional formats prevalent in Chinese talk shows at the time. This affable and natural approach quickly resonated with audiences, making the show a success and inspiring numerous copycat programs on other networks.

3.3. Battle with Depression and Return to Hosting

In 2001, Cui Yongyuan was diagnosed with clinical depression, a condition that profoundly affected his career. This led him to temporarily step down from his role at Tell It Like It Is in 2002. After a period of battling his illness, he made a notable return to CCTV in 2003, where he began hosting Talk with Xiao Cui (小崔說事_{Xiǎo Cuī Shuōshì}^Chinese). He continued to host this program until 2009.

3.4. Notable Appearances and Achievements

Throughout his career at CCTV, Cui Yongyuan garnered significant accolades and made several memorable appearances. He was recognized as one of CCTV's Top Ten Best Hosts for 2005, a testament to his influence and popularity. In a pioneering move during the 2007 National People's Congress, he hosted a unique talk show where he engaged directly with regional Chinese leaders, discussing everyday issues of concern to the populace. This marked the first instance of such a program in the PRC. Cui Yongyuan also made multiple appearances at the prestigious CCTV New Year's Gala, one of China's most watched annual television events. He participated in comedy skits alongside popular entertainers Zhao Benshan and Song Dandan titled Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow in both 1999 and 2006. Additionally, in 2000, he performed a song and dance routine with Taiwanese actress Ruby Lin. From 2012 to 2013, Cui hosted the Chinese version of Thank God You Are Here.

4.1. Academic Endeavors

In 2012, while still at CCTV, Cui Yongyuan established the Cui Yongyuan Oral History Research Center at his alma mater, the Communication University of China. The following year, in 2013, he formally left CCTV to take on a professorship at the same university, dedicating his efforts to academic pursuits. His written works include the essay collection Bu Guo Ru Ci (不過如此_{Bùguò Rúcǐ}^Chinese), published in July 2001 by Huayi Publishing House in Beijing.

4.2. Transition to Online Activism and Whistleblowing

After resigning from CCTV, Cui Yongyuan briefly returned to television in January 2015, signing with Shanghai-based Dragon Television to host the program "Eyes on Dongfang" (東方眼_{Dōngfāng Yǎn}^Chinese). However, the show was abruptly cancelled after only three months for undisclosed reasons. From 2013 to 2019, Cui Yongyuan increasingly became known as a prolific online activist and whistleblower. His public exposure of alleged malpractices garnered significant public attention, eventually leading to his blacklisting from the Chinese internet due to his involvement in the "billion yuan mining rights case." Despite this ban, Cui Yongyuan continued his public advocacy by launching his own YouTube channel in 2020, through which he continues to communicate with his audience.

5.1. Anti-GMO Campaign

Cui Yongyuan became a leading voice in the anti-GMO movement in China. The controversy began in September 2013 when he engaged in a heated online debate with popular science writer Fang Zhouzi regarding the commercialization of genetically modified organisms. Following this, Cui undertook private investigations into GMO consumption and regulations in Japan and the United States. In 2014, he publicly accused Fang Zhouzi of operating an illegal trust fund and using ill-gotten gains, totaling around 670.00 K USD, to purchase a luxurious house in California. This led to Fang Zhouzi suing Cui Yongyuan for defamation. The verdict, delivered on June 25, 2015, found both parties at fault and ordered them to issue public apologies to each other. Fang Zhouzi subsequently appealed the decision. The fallout from this conflict was widely cited by Chinese-language media as a contributing factor to Cui Yongyuan's decision to leave the state broadcaster for a teaching position at his alma mater.

The anti-GMO campaign saw further developments when Cui Yongyuan gave a talk on the topic at Fudan University on March 26, 2015. Despite organizers attempting to prevent students and faculty from the Life Science Department from attending, Professor Lu Daru of the Genetics Institute became aware of the event and openly challenged Cui during the Q&A session. In response, Cui Yongyuan asserted that Lu lacked the "knowledge of broadcasting" necessary to debate him "on the same level." He also declared that "us 'consensus front of journalists' thinks that your ('consensus front of scientific researchers', a phrase used by Lu earlier) claims (on GMO) is not well founded," highlighting a perceived divide between scientific and media perspectives on the issue.

A particular incident in July 2015 further brought Cui Yongyuan under public scrutiny regarding his understanding of basic scientific principles. He reblogged a parody fake-news post on Weibo which humorously stated that "French fries from both KFC and McDonald's are found to contain a potentially poisonous chemical called sodium chloride." Unaware that sodium chloride is common table salt, Cui reposted this as genuine news, adding a sarcastic comment: "This is not scientific, because medical research has not found even one case of people getting sick due to eating French fries from KFC or McDonald's. This is exactly the same as GMO!" This incident led to widespread ridicule and questions about his fundamental knowledge of natural sciences.

5.2. China Record Corporation Data Security Allegations

On June 8, 2015, Cui Yongyuan used his Weibo account to raise concerns about data security involving the China Record Corporation. He alleged that the corporation had subcontracted the digitization of valuable historical documents to a Japanese company, and, crucially, that master copies of these documents had been released to the contractor. Cui argued that such actions violated regulations on data security and required immediate investigation. In response, the China Record Corporation stated that the digitization work was performed by its subsidiary, Victory Records and Videos, and maintained that all personnel involved were Chinese citizens, implying no security breach had occurred.

5.3. Yin-yang Contracts Exposé

Cui Yongyuan became a central figure in a major scandal that exposed widespread tax evasion in the Chinese entertainment industry. His involvement stemmed from a long-standing feud with acclaimed film director Feng Xiaogang regarding the 2003 film Cell Phone, which many believed to be an unflattering portrayal of Cui's private life. On May 10, 2018, Feng Xiaogang posted a concept poster for Cell Phone 2, a sequel to the controversial film. This prompted Cui Yongyuan to retaliate. On May 27, Cui posted on Weibo a contract revealing that actress Fan Bingbing was purportedly paid 10.00 M CNY for a project. The next day, May 28, he further alleged that another actor had signed two contracts for a mere four-day film shoot-one for 10.00 M CNY and another for 50.00 M CNY, effectively pocketing a total of 60.00 M CNY while declaring only the smaller amount for tax purposes. This practice is known as "yin-yang contracts." Due to the timing and the smaller contract amount matching Fan Bingbing's previously revealed contract, many observers incorrectly assumed Cui was accusing Fan of this specific "yin-yang contract" tax evasion. Fan's studio swiftly denied these accusations on May 29.

Despite the denials, Cui Yongyuan's revelations drew the attention of Chinese tax authorities. On June 3, China's tax investigation unit announced an official inquiry into Fan Bingbing's suspected tax evasion. On October 3, the Xinhua News Agency reported the findings: Fan Bingbing was ordered to pay a staggering 883.00 M CNY in unpaid taxes and penalties. This landmark case led to Fan Bingbing being largely blacklisted in mainland China, with her films and television works prohibited from release. More broadly, Cui's exposé triggered a comprehensive tax audit crackdown and significant reforms across the entire Chinese entertainment industry. Xinhua News Agency further reported in early 2019 that, following the scandal, entertainment industry taxpayers conducted self-inspections, leading to the declaration of 11.75 B CNY in taxes by the end of 2018, with 11.55 B CNY already paid into the treasury. Cui Yongyuan's actions undeniably played a crucial role in uncovering and addressing systemic tax fraud within the industry.

5.4. Billion Yuan Mining Rights Case

Cui Yongyuan played a critical role in bringing to light the "billion yuan mining rights case," a complex legal dispute that exposed alleged corruption at the highest levels of China's judiciary. The dispute originated in 2003 when Yulin Kaiqilai Energy Investment Co. and Xi'an Geological Mineral Exploration and Development Institute entered an agreement for joint exploration of a coalfield. After Kaiqilai discovered substantial coal reserves, the Xi'an Institute breached the original contract by signing a new agreement with a third party. This led Kaiqilai to pursue legal action against the Xi'an Institute, eventually winning the lawsuit in 2017 after a protracted 12-year legal battle.

In late 2018, Cui Yongyuan brought the case into the public spotlight through allegations he posted on Weibo. He claimed that crucial case files had been "stolen" in 2016 during the Supreme People's Court's proceedings. Cui went further, suggesting that Zhou Qiang, who was then the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme People's Court, had colluded in the disappearance of these files. Following Cui's allegations, China Times (Huaxia Shibao) released a video featuring Wang Linqing, a judge who had been involved in the case. In the video, Wang corroborated the disappearance of the files and stated that he had made the recording to ensure his personal safety.

Initially, the Supreme People's Court dismissed these allegations. However, faced with mounting public pressure and evidence, the court later admitted that the files were indeed missing and announced an official investigation. In February 2019, a joint investigation team led by the powerful Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission concluded that the missing files had, in fact, been stolen by Judge Wang Linqing himself. In May, Cui Yongyuan issued a public apology for what was deemed false whistleblowing and subsequently retreated from the public eye. The legal repercussions extended to those involved: in 2022, Wang Linqing was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 1.00 M CNY for the crimes of taking bribes and illegally obtaining national secrets. Despite the official findings that discredited Cui's specific claim about the theft, his efforts undeniably brought a major case of alleged judicial corruption to national attention, demonstrating the power of public outcry in China.

6.1. Influence on Media and Society

As a host, particularly of Tell It Like It Is, Cui Yongyuan revolutionized Chinese television by introducing a more relaxed, unscripted, and personal style that fostered genuine dialogue. This marked a departure from the conventional rigid broadcasting norms and paved the way for more interactive and engaging talk shows. Beyond his role as a media personality, Cui Yongyuan has had a profound impact on promoting social transparency and accountability through his fervent whistleblowing activities. His courage in exposing major scandals, such as the "yin-yang contracts" in the entertainment industry and allegations within the judiciary, demonstrated a rare willingness to challenge powerful establishments. He utilized his public platform, initially on state television and later online, to bring critical issues to the forefront of public discourse, advocating for greater scrutiny and integrity in various sectors of Chinese society. His actions galvanized public opinion and, in some cases, directly led to governmental investigations and reforms, solidifying his image as a defender of public interest.

6.2. Criticism and Government Response

Despite his significant influence, Cui Yongyuan has faced considerable criticism, particularly regarding his methods and the accuracy of some of his claims. His public dispute with Fang Zhouzi on GMOs, and specifically his erroneous repost about "sodium chloride" in French fries, led to ridicule and questions about his scientific literacy. Critics have also pointed to his approach in the "billion yuan mining rights case," where his initial allegations about the Supreme People's Court were later officially refuted, leading to his public apology. These instances fueled debates about the reliability of information shared by public figures on social media.

In response to his high-profile whistleblowing, particularly after the "billion yuan mining rights case," the Chinese government took stern measures against Cui Yongyuan. He was effectively banned from the Chinese internet, a significant restriction on his ability to communicate with his large online following. This action underscores the authorities' sensitivity to public challenges and their efforts to control narratives that may destabilize state institutions. Despite the ban, Cui has adapted by using platforms like YouTube to continue his outreach, reflecting his enduring commitment to his advocacy.

7.1. Written Works

Cui Yongyuan has authored published works, including the essay collection:

• Bu Guo Ru Ci (不過如此_{Bùguò Rúcǐ}^Chinese), published in July 2001 by Huayi Publishing House in Beijing.

7.2. Programs Hosted

Cui Yongyuan has hosted several prominent television programs:

• Oriental Horizon (東方時空_{Dōngfāng Shíkōng}^Chinese)
• Tell It Like It Is (實話實說_{Shíhuà Shíshuō}^Chinese)
• Talk with Xiao Cui (小崔說事_{Xiǎo Cuī Shuōshì}^Chinese)
• Legend of Movies (電影伝奇_{Diànyǐng Chuánqí}^Chinese)
• Thank Earth and the Heavens That You Came (謝天謝地你来啦_{Xiè Tiān Xiè Dì Nǐ Lái La}^Chinese)
• Oriental Eye (東方眼_{Dōngfāng Yǎn}^Chinese, also known as Eyes on the East or Eyes on Dongfang)