A2O LITE member Aijing's mother apologizes for unpaid wages controversy

The mother of Aijing, a 13-year-old member of the newly debuted K-pop girl group A2O LITE, has issued a public apology following allegations of unpaid wages involving her former business.

In a statement released on Weibo, Aijing’s mother acknowledged that her Beijing-based education company faced severe financial difficulties, leading to debt disputes and delayed payments to employees. She stated, “Regardless of what happened, my failure to pay [my employees] on time was a mistake that I must accept and take responsibility for.” Reports indicate that the company and the parents are involved in legal enforcement cases totaling approximately 3.45 million CNY.

The controversy emerged shortly after A2O LITE’s debut showcase, produced by Lee Soo Man. While Aijing gained significant attention for her performance, the news regarding her family's business quickly spread across social media. The mother emphasized that her daughter, a minor, has no involvement in the business or the resulting financial disputes, stating, “The responsibility for this incident lies with the parents... the child has no relationship with the business I previously operated or the related disputes.”