A2O LITE, the new nine-member girl group created by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man (이수만), was highly anticipated as his return to the K-pop scene after a three-year hiatus. However, the group has been plagued by controversy even before its official debut. Initial concerns were raised by Korean netizens regarding the young age of several members, sparking debate over underage idols. Now, Chinese netizens have uncovered details about the family background of Chinese member AIJING, alleging that her parents' training institution is involved in salary arrears and has even faced court-ordered enforcement. This revelation has quickly ignited public outrage.
A2O LITE is a new girl group launched by Lee Soo-man's A2O Entertainment, debuting alongside the 15-member boy group A2O SOUL. Lee, who previously developed renowned groups like Girls' Generation (소녀시대) and EXO (엑소), holds a pivotal position in the K-pop industry. His return with a new group, following the sale of his SM Entertainment shares to HYBE and the expiration of a related non-compete agreement, naturally garnered significant attention from fans.
Furthermore, A2O LITE was rumored to have Girls' Generation member Sunny (써니) involved in training, and former SM ace producer Yoo Young-jin (유영진) was also said to be participating in its production, raising high expectations for the new girl group. However, as member information was gradually revealed, the group found itself embroiled in various controversies even before establishing a firm footing.
The first point of contention was the members' ages. OA, AIJING, and AYUNE within the group are reportedly all born in 2013, which would make them approximately 12 to 13 years old currently, if the information is accurate. Even Young, considered the oldest member, is only about 17 to 18 years old. In recent years, the debut of underage idols in the K-pop scene has been a continuous topic of discussion. Following the revelation of A2O LITE's age composition, many fans questioned whether the company was overly pursuing youthfulness and expressed concerns about whether the young members could withstand high-intensity training, promotional schedules, and external public pressure.
Unexpectedly, with A2O LITE's first public stage, another controversy shifted focus to Chinese member AIJING. AIJING delivered a striking performance on stage, with her dance skills drawing particular attention. She reportedly has a history of winning multiple dance competitions, accumulating considerable performance experience. After her debut stage, her outstanding dance and visuals sparked discussion, with some netizens even comparing her aura to that of Korean singer BoA (보아), initially positioning her as a promising standout member of the group.
However, after AIJING gained attention, Chinese netizens began investigating her family background, directing their scrutiny towards a training institution run by her parents. Online rumors suggest that the institution has been accused of owing employee wages since 2024, with related cases involving court-ordered enforcement totaling 3.45 million Chinese yuan. Additionally, individuals claiming to be former employees have come forward with IOUs, stating that despite agreed-upon repayment dates, the institution repeatedly defaulted, bringing the issue of unpaid wages back into the spotlight.
These revelations have sparked another wave of questions. Some netizens wonder how AIJING could still participate in competitions in the U.S., film advertisements, and act in dramas despite the alleged unpaid wages, questioning the source of her training and entertainment resources. A segment of netizens has even extended the family controversy to AIJING herself, directly labeling her as the "daughter of a defaulter," quickly transforming discussions initially focused on her stage talent into debates about her family background and moral responsibility.
After the news spread, Chinese netizens reacted strongly, with comments including, "I hate myself for liking her yesterday," "Only after working do you realize how hard it is to earn money; not a single penny owed to me is acceptable," and "Family backgrounds should be thoroughly investigated before debut." Some even explicitly called for her to "leave the group and pay back the money." Other netizens expressed that they had praised AIJING's stage performance, only to have their mood instantly affected by these revelations.
More netizens have pointed fingers at the group's resource allocation, suggesting that AIJING appears to receive more attention based on the MV's presentation. They question whether her potentially greater access to training and entertainment resources would lead to unfair treatment for other members. One person angrily stated, "Last night I praised her for having the best stage presence, but it turns out she took lessons with the hard-earned money of workers." However, others countered, arguing that even if the family is involved in controversy, responsibility should not be directly attributed to a young member without complete evidence.
A2O LITE was initially met with anticipation due to Lee Soo-man's production background, the members' stage performances, and its multinational lineup. However, it has now faced both age-related controversies and family background scandals. Particularly, AIJING, who had just gained attention for her debut stage, has been embroiled in accusations of her parents' unpaid wages. Whether this will affect her future development within the group remains a focus of public attention. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the current allegations of unpaid wages should be verified through formal investigations and judicial records, as online rumors alone do not directly prove AIJING's personal involvement.
