The female official mentioned above is Ms. Zhong Yang (52 years old), who used to hold the position of Prefecture Chief and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou Province (China), according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on September 19.

Known for her striking looks, Chung was often referred to as the "beautiful governor" during her tenure. She never married and had no children.

She was recognized for founding a fruit and agricultural association to help farmers and using her money to support the elderly in need.

However, a January documentary produced by Guizhou Radio and Television revealed troubling aspects of her career, in which she was accused of accepting bribes and using her position to ensure that favored companies received lucrative contracts under the guise of government investment.

Meanwhile, a private business owner alleged that Ms. Chung had neglected companies that she had no personal relationship with, a situation that has stunted the growth of private businesses in the area, according to SCMP .

Along with her pursuit of power and wealth, Ms. Chung also had many relationships with male subordinates, using excuses such as "working overtime" and "going on business trips" to spend time with her male lovers, according to SCMP citing information from NetEase News .

According to NetEase News , some men choose to be Chung’s lovers because of the benefits she brings them, while others are reluctant to do so out of fear of her power. Chung is said to have had 58 lovers and is a frequent visitor to nightclubs.

In April 2023, Guizhou authorities launched an investigation into Ms. Zhong’s actions, leading to her conviction for corruption. She was accused of accepting bribes estimated at nearly 60 million yuan (US$9.6 million).

On September 1, Ms. Zhong was expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from office. She was later sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined 1 million yuan (nearly 3.5 billion VND).

In the documentary, Ms. Chung expressed regret, saying: "My corrupt behavior stemmed from the mistaken belief that I needed to train some trustworthy businessmen to help me solve political problems."

As a public servant, Ms. Chung acknowledged that her duty was to foster a fair and equitable environment for market development. “I am ashamed of my actions. When you take something that does not belong to you, it will eventually destroy you,” Ms. Chung said.

Ms. Chung's story has sparked strong criticism on social media in mainland China.

One netizen commented on Weibo: "There are many officials like Ms. Chung, selfish and corrupt, who have prevented positive businesses from developing."

Another person expressed sympathy for Ms Chung's parents: "I feel sorry for her poor parents. I can imagine how disappointed and heartbroken they are."