Controversy continues to surround A2O LITE Chinese member Ai Jing, recently launched by Lee Soo-manβs A2O Entertainment, as fresh allegations emerge regarding her parents’ unpaid wage scandal.
Former Employee Comes Forward with Shocking Claims
Recently, posts have spread across Chinese social media and online communities from a netizen claiming to be a former employee of the company once run by Ai Jing’s parents. The author stated, At the time, my father was very ill and eventually passed away. There were several tens of thousands of yuan (millions of Korean won) in unpaid wages owed to me.
The whistleblower continued, Our family consists of just two sisters, and with my older sister quitting her job to dedicate herself to caring for our father, there was zero income while I alone worked to sustain our livelihood. When the time came to arrange my father’s funeral, I asked the company for the money I was owed, but the response was that there wasn’t a single penny available.
In particular, the writer expressed profound anger, saying, When I made a direct phone call, they eventually transferred just 1,000 yuan (approx. $140 USD) to me. Just 1,000 yuan. After I had worked diligently, breaking my back working night shifts for years, for such a massive event as my father’s passing while owing me so much money, they handed me a meager 1,000 yuan. I will truly never forget this for the rest of my life.
Severe Financial and Legal Troubles
Ai Jing, the center of the controversy, is a member who has drawn significant attention despite her young age of 13 for her powerful dancing skills and visuals reminiscent of BoA during her debut days. However, as revealed through multiple foreign media reports, Ai Jing’s parents have been officially listed by the court as dishonest judgment debtors, sparking fierce debate.
According to court rulings leaked on the Chinese internet, Beijing Sophie Education Technology Co., Ltd., registered under Ai Jing’s mother, has been embroiled in employee wage disputes for the past two years. Although both sides signed a installment payment agreement, the company failed to fulfill it, leading to forced execution by the court. The total amount subject to enforcement against Ai Jing’s parents reaches approximately 3.45 million yuan (approx. $480,000 USD), and their registered assets are currently under high-consumption restriction orders.
Mother Issues Apology
Previously on the 14th, Ai Jing’s mother took to social media to address the issue, stating, Although we previously operated an education-related business, worsening business conditions plunged the company into severe financial distress, leading to these debt disputes. Regardless of the circumstances, failing to pay the required amounts on time is a fault I must face and take responsibility for. I sincerely apologize to all those who suffered damage.
She added, We are contacting affected parties one by one to discuss solutions and are in continuous communication. We will not evade responsibility and will see it through until all problems are resolved. However, she maintained that this is a matter for the parents to resolve, emphasizing that the child has no relation to past business operations or disputes.
