2026’s Top Chinese Drama ‘Chuk Ok’: A Deep Dive into Beauty Standards and Cultural Values

A debate over the heavy makeup worn by the male lead in the Chinese drama Searching for Jade (Chukok), which recently premiered on Netflix, has been gaining traction in China. Regulators say an industry-wide fixation on appearance has become problematic, and they have moved to intervene.

According to reports in the Global Times and other outlets, China’s National Radio and Television Administration convened a roundtable with industry representatives and urged them to “thoroughly reject appearance-based supremacy.”

The action appears linked to the romance historical drama Chukok, set in a fictional ancient dynasty. Actor Zhang Linghe, who plays the male lead Sa-jeong, earned praise as a “handsome general” but has also drawn criticism for heavy makeup that critics say is incongruous with the gritty realities of the battlefield scenes.

Some viewers have derided him online as the “Foundation General.”

Executives from major streaming platforms, including iQiyi, Mango TV and Tencent Video, along with producers, attended the meeting.

The administration said, “Dramas play an important role in conveying mainstream values, preserving traditional culture and shaping aesthetic standards,” and warned that some productions demonstrate “appearance supremacy, excessive makeup, and costumes or props that don’t suit their characters.”

Officials called for the industry to discard distorted beauty standards and shift from a “star-centered” model to a “script-centered” approach, stressing the need for story- and character-driven creations that yield more authentic, lively portrayals.

They also urged the sector to move away from appearance-driven and traffic-dependent practices, emphasizing acting ability and artistic merit over looks.

Regulators added that costumes and makeup should serve character development and narrative needs while reflecting wholesome values and Chinese aesthetic principles.

The administration said it will work with government bodies, industry stakeholders, production companies and platforms to strengthen guidance and training across the entire production, distribution and management process.

Chukok is adapted from a popular Chinese web novel. Set in the fictional Dayun dynasty, the series follows butcher’s daughter Fan Zhangyu (played by Tian Xiwei) and General Sa-jeong (played by Zhang Linghe) as they enter a sham marriage and pursue revenge.

The series has notably maintained a spot in Netflix Korea’s Top 10 for non-English dramas — an uncommon achievement for a Chinese series on the platform.