A2O LITE, the new nine-member girl group launched by "K-Pop Godfather" Lee Soo-man (이수만) after a three-year hiatus, quickly garnered attention following its debut. The group achieved remarkable success across various video platforms and secured a music show win. Among its members, 13-year-old Aijing (盛艾敬) rapidly rose to fame for her exceptional stage presence and solid dance skills, earning her the nickname "Little BoA." However, shortly after her debut, her parents became embroiled in a controversy over unpaid employee wages, amounting to 3.45 million Chinese yuan (approximately ₩700 million). This sparked widespread public outrage, with many netizens demanding her withdrawal from the group and labeling her "the daughter of a defaulter." As the controversy continues to escalate, some Chinese fans have proposed crowdfunding or lending money to help her parents repay the debt, reigniting a fierce debate between opposing viewpoints.
Recently, a netizen revealed that among the victims of Aijing's parents' wage dispute, one pregnant employee was denied wages, leading to severe financial hardship and the birth of a daughter with a congenital disease. The whistleblower argued that Aijing's debut was a secondary trauma for the victims, noting that some of the withheld wages were vital funds intended for the daughter's medical expenses, while others were meant for the funeral costs of a deceased father. These revelations have brought renewed attention to the case. The whistleblower also stated that despite the irreversible harm suffered by the victims, Aijing's family has yet to offer any compensation.
While Aijing has always been charismatic on stage, recent footage captured her looking dejected and seemingly shedding tears after work, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from fans. As public attention remains fixed on the unfolding situation, posts titled "Help Aijing's Parents Repay Their Debt" have appeared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some fans have suggested pooling money to help Aijing's mother resolve her financial issues. One fan publicly offered to lend 1,000 Chinese yuan and called for large fan accounts to coordinate fundraising efforts.
However, this fan specifically emphasized that the collected funds would not be a donation but a "loan," intended to help Aijing's mother overcome her immediate difficulties, with the expectation that the money would be returned to fans once she has future income. Another fan suggested that if others were willing to help, a team could be organized to manage the process, even hoping Aijing's mother would join to collectively seek solutions.
The primary motivation behind fans' willingness to assist is their desire for Aijing to remain unaffected by her parents' debt issues and to focus on her entertainment activities. Some fans believe that Aijing, having just debuted, should be able to enjoy the joy of performing without the burden of family pressure, hoping she can continue her activities without worries. However, this initiative, upon reaching Korean online communities, drew significant criticism.
Many netizens commented, "Oh my god... does being a fan really come to this?" "Even if the money is repaid, does that solve the problem?" "Didn't they issue a statement a long time ago? Why haven't they repaid the money yet?" "Do they want to be scammed?" "It's understandable to feel bad for an idol struggling, but to have no empathy for office workers who are struggling due to unpaid wages, what kind of mindset is this?" "Fans helping scamming parents repay their debt, it's ridiculous, the ultimate form of idol worship." "If they help repay the debt this time, aren't they afraid her parents will do it again in the future?" "I can understand fans' feelings, but to go to such lengths after knowing an idol for so little time is truly unimaginable." Some also argued that if fans decide to contribute money, they should bear the potential risks themselves.
What particularly raised questions was that while fans were busy discussing how to help their idol's parents repay their debts, the actual victims affected by the unpaid wages still faced unresolved issues. Compared to the fans' eagerness to help, whether the victims' rights are protected has become a central focus of this controversy.
Looking back at the entire incident, Aijing officially debuted as a member of A2O LITE on the 12th of this month. Shortly after her debut, her parents were exposed for their involvement in a wage dispute. According to Chinese local media reports, Aijing's parents' former education company in Beijing allegedly failed to pay employee wages starting in 2024. The total amount subject to court-ordered enforcement against the relevant companies and her parents is reportedly around 3.45 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to approximately ₩700 million.
As the controversy continued to escalate, Aijing's mother posted an apology on Weibo on the 14th of this month, admitting that the debt dispute arose from the deterioration of the company's operational status. She pledged not to evade responsibility and to see the matter through until all issues are resolved. However, she also specifically emphasized that her daughter had no connection to her past business ventures or related disputes, urging the public not to involve her daughter.
In addition to her parents' wage dispute, Aijing recently became embroiled in a "character controversy" after allegedly pushing another member on the way out of a TV station. In a group photo video released on the 22nd of this month, Aijing was seen pushing Ayune (아윤) with both hands while adjusting her position. Some netizens criticized her actions as lacking consideration for others. However, other netizens defended her, suggesting that the group was on a narrow staircase trying to coordinate their poses, and accidental contact was inevitable, advising against over-interpreting a short video clip.
Having just debuted, Aijing's entertainment career is being severely tested by a series of controversies, including her parents' unpaid wages, fans proposing crowdfunding to repay the debt, and allegations of pushing a teammate. Whether her family can properly handle the debt issues and protect the victims' rights remains a key focus of public attention.
