LayarHijau – Veteran Hong Kong director Wong Jing has finally spoken out about the full-episode leak of the hit costume drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉), which has recently sparked widespread discussion online. In a video released on March 24, 2026, he addressed not only the drama’s production quality but also the deeper industry issues exposed by the incident.
His remarks quickly went viral, with related hashtags soaring to the top of trending charts and generating over 800 million views in a short time. Industry insiders and viewers alike flooded the comment sections, saying his words reflected a long-standing frustration rarely voiced so openly.
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In the video, Wong Jing also offered a professional evaluation of Pursuit of Jade’s visual production. He especially praised the lighting and color grading, highlighting the attention to detail. “The lighting is handled with great care, especially on the actors’ faces. The details are very refined, and the color grading adds strong texture, creating both visual beauty and atmosphere,” he said.
Starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, the drama has gained strong traction since its premiere thanks to its polished production and compelling lead characters. Its popularity continued to rise across major platforms—until March 21, when the entire series was leaked online in high-quality 4K versions, still bearing censorship watermarks.
The pirated files reportedly spread through cloud storage services and private groups at low prices. Beyond disrupting the viewing experience, the leak has caused significant financial losses for both the production team and streaming platforms.
Reflecting on the situation, Wong Jing said he is no stranger to the damage caused by piracy. He lived through an era when Hong Kong cinema was heavily impacted by illegal VCD distribution. However, he emphasized that today’s situation is far more severe.
“In the past, piracy like cam recordings or illegal discs was harmful, but it didn’t shake the foundation of the industry. Now, what’s being leaked are complete, unreleased versions—the impact is far greater,” he explained.
He pointed to the core issue as internal involvement within the production chain. “The production process is long and complex—dubbing, color grading, censorship, distribution—there are many stages involving many people. You don’t know at which point the file was copied, so it’s extremely difficult to trace,” he said.
Wong Jing stressed that insider leaks pose the greatest challenge. “Insider leaks are the hardest to prevent,” he noted, adding that investigations are often hindered by a lack of concrete evidence.
In the case of Pursuit of Jade, the presence of platform review watermarks strongly suggests the leak originated internally. Yet, as Wong Jing pointed out, this very factor also makes identifying the individual responsible far more complicated.
His comments have reignited broader discussions about weak content protection systems within the entertainment industry. Many professionals have come forward to share similar concerns, while netizens described his statement as an honest reflection of a long-standing issue.
This is far from an isolated case. In recent years, several popular dramas, including Joy of Life and The Vendetta of An, have faced similar leaks. Annual losses from piracy are estimated to exceed 200 billion yuan, making it one of the most persistent challenges hindering the industry’s growth.
In closing, Wong Jing called for comprehensive improvements to the system. He emphasized the need to strengthen copyright awareness among industry workers and urged authorities to enforce stricter regulations against piracy.
“There must be stronger protection mechanisms, and violations like this should be punished severely. Only then can the hard work of creators truly be respected,” he stated.
As the discussion continues to gain momentum, many hope this incident will serve as a turning point—pushing for stronger copyright protection and a healthier environment for the entertainment industry to thrive.
