Math scholar's social media debut kicks up concerns about his health

Chinese mathematical genius Wei Dongyi, who recently launched personal social media accounts, is now drawing widespread attention and sparking online discussions about his health.

Wei, an assistant professor and researcher at the School of Mathematical Sciences at Peking University, made his debut on Douyin and Xiaohongshu, also known as Red-Note, by posting a short self-introductory video.

"Hello everyone, I am Wei Dongyi," he says in the video, standing in front of a blackboard. Within a week, his Douyin account garnered more than 24 million followers, while his RedNote account attracted over 570,000 followers.

Wei's unexpected appearance on social media quickly went viral. However, it also raised concerns among netizens about his health. Many viewers noticed apparent dental issues in the video and called on the university to offer more support to the young academic.

According to Chengdu-based media outlet Hongxing News, Wei stated that he would not make any further public responses on this matter. He also acknowledged that the recent wave of public attention has had an impact on him.

Renowned in China for both his extraordinary mathematical talent and modest lifestyle, Wei was born in 1991 and won gold medals with perfect scores in the 49th and 50th International Mathematical Olympiads while in high school. He later enrolled at Peking University, where he earned a doctorate and began working as an assistant professor in 2019.

Wei first drew national attention in a 2021 interview where he was seen carrying a water bottle and a bag of steamed buns, an image that quickly resonated with the public and added to his reputation for simplicity and dedication.

In response to the growing public concern, the school, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency, said that it has been attending to Wei's oral health. Medical consultations have already been conducted, with a proposed treatment plan on hand.

The school said it would continue to support his access to medical care. At the same time, the school urged netizens to help maintain a quiet environment conducive to scholarly research, allowing Wei to fully focus on his teaching and academic work.

Peking University also expressed gratitude for the public's concern, but emphasized that in accordance with its commitment to respecting Wei's wishes, it continues to provide comprehensive support in terms of work, daily life and healthcare, with proper arrangements and guarantees in place.

Wei's account launch coincided with the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, prompting a flood of messages from students expressing their hopes for strong performances in the mathematics portion of the exam.

However, Wei's popularity also led to the emergence of numerous copycat accounts on social media, using names such as "God Wei" and "Wei Dongyi Select" to capitalize on the trend. One fake Weibo account under the name "The Real Wei Dongyi" was identified and subsequently blocked by the platform.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn