Former employee claims unpaid wages were only 1,000 yuan

A former employee of the education company operated by AIJING's parents claims they received only 1,000 yuan after requesting overdue wages to cover their father's funeral. This follows reports of compulsory execution cases totaling approximately 3.45 million yuan involving the company and the parents.

The family controversy surrounding AIJING, a member of the rookie girl group A2O LITE introduced by producer Lee Soo-man, has entered a new phase. While allegations of unpaid wages at the education company operated by AIJING's parents have surfaced, a former employee has now claimed that after requesting overdue wages ahead of their father's funeral, they received only 1,000 yuan, approximately 200,000 won. As the daughter gains attention following her flashy debut, the atmosphere on Chinese online forums is growing tense due to successive complaints from former employees of the company.

On the 18th, a post from a netizen claiming to have worked at the company operated by AIJING's parents spread on Chinese social media. The netizen stated they were in a desperate situation, having to support their family while their father was critically ill, and eventually having to hold a funeral. They explained that after their sister quit her job to care for their father, they effectively became the sole breadwinner for the household. The individual claimed they requested help from the company to receive the overdue wages to pay for the funeral, but the response received was that there was no money.

The individual claims that after making a direct phone call, they ultimately received only 1,000 yuan. "I worked diligently for several years, even working overtime, but they gave me only that much while I was going through the major event of my father passing away," the person said, expressing their devastated state of mind. They further expressed anger, stating they "will never forget this for the rest of my life." The controversy is growing heavier as claims emerge that the unpaid wage allegations extend beyond simple business debt to the livelihoods of employees and family tragedies. However, the specific employment history of the employee, the scale of the unpaid wages, and the circumstances of the payment require further verification.

Previously, on the 13th, Chinese media outlets including Dahe Daily and Cover News reported allegations that wages were unpaid at the Beijing-based education company operated by AIJING's parents. It has been reported that compulsory execution cases totaling approximately 3.45 million yuan involving the company and the parents' names were identified on a local corporate information platform. While this indicates a significant scale of debt issues, it is necessary to separately examine whether the entire amount related to the compulsory execution corresponds to the unpaid wages of the employees.

As the controversy grew, AIJING's mother released a statement via social media on the 14th. She admitted to the unpaid wage issues and apologized, stating that debt disputes arose due to the rapid deterioration of the management situation of the previously operated education business. She explained that she is discussing solutions with relevant parties, but emphasized that AIJING is unrelated to the business or the dispute, asserting that the parents themselves must take responsibility and resolve the matter. This is interpreted as an attempt to separate the family's business responsibilities from the activities of their daughter, AIJING.

However, it has not been easy to turn public opinion around with only an apology. On the 17th, a hashtag suggesting whether the daughter's star activities were supported by the "blood and sweat" of employees became the number one trending search term on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, increasing the impact. On the 16th, the Chinese online media outlet Kankan News pointed out that unpaid wages had already occurred at the mother's company when AIJING won a dance competition in 2024, and that promises of installment payments were not fulfilled when she participated in a world dance competition held in the United States in 2025. The Chinese media outlet Yangcheng Evening News also called for a resolution to the problem, taking the position that practical debt repayment is more important than an apology.

Criticism is also spreading into the realm of privacy as photos of AIJING's past overseas travels are being re-examined online. One netizen introduced a photo of AIJING relaxing with a group of people as being from a trip to Thailand, criticizing the fact that there was enough leisure to enjoy a trip while wages were not paid to employees. However, the timing and location of the photo have not been confirmed, and it cannot be concluded from the photo alone what the source of the travel expenses was or the debt situation of the parents. Nevertheless, as allegations are raised that employees' wages were not properly paid, doubts are spreading regarding the family's consumption and the daughter's activities.

Meanwhile, AIJING has made a notable start in the music industry. A2O LITE, which includes the 13-year-old AIJING, began full-scale activities on the 13th with the release of their debut single "NEON." The song drew attention by reaching number one on the Melon "TOP100" chart at 11 p.m. on the 14th. As the debut song of a rookie girl group rapidly climbed to the top of the charts, interest in the group's music and performances is growing, but it is becoming difficult to avoid external pressures due to the ongoing controversy surrounding the family.

The core of this matter is not the speculation surrounding AIJING's popularity or unverified photos, but whether there are actually unpaid wages, whether the employees claiming damages have been paid their due, and how the related debts are resolved. Since AIJING's mother has admitted responsibility and apologized, the future of public opinion is likely to be determined by specific repayment plans and their implementation rather than explanations. While the daughter's debut and the parents' business responsibilities should be separated, voices demanding practical solutions are not expected to subside easily as the issue involves the livelihoods of employees.

Read the original (Korean)