Chinese film director Zhang Yimou fined $1.23 million for violating one-child policy

Famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou and his wife, Chen Ting, have been fined more than 7 million yuan for violating the country’s one-child per family policy, Chinese media reported Thursday.

In a letter sent to Zhang, the authorities of east China's Jiangsu Province ordered the couple to pay social maintenance fees amounting to 7.48 million yuan ($1.23 million) for violating the policy.

In an interview with the Xinhua news agency, Zhang acknowledged that they had raised three children, two sons and one daughter, in accordance with the Chinese belief that “the more children we have, the happier we feel.”

Rumors had it that the couple had at least seven children.

On a different occasion, Zhang apologized to the public for the violation, expressing his willingness to accept investigations and punishment in accordance with the law, reports said.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

​Chinese film director Zhang Yimou fined $1.23 million for violating one-child policy

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou fined $1.23 million for violating one-child policy