2026.10.15. The Fair Economy — Allegations have arisen that the company operated by the parents of A I-jjing (13), a member of the group A2O LITE launched by Lee Su-man, has withheld wages from its employees. A I-jjing's mother has acknowledged responsibility and apologized.
On the 14th, A I-jjing's mother posted a statement of apology on Weibo Corporation, a Chinese social media platform.
The mother admitted that while running an education-related business in the past, she faced financial difficulties that led to debt disputes, and that she failed to pay the amounts owed on time. She said she is currently discussing solutions with the parties involved and will take responsibility until all issues are resolved. She emphasized that her daughter A I-jjing has nothing to do with this case.
According to local media such as Daehabo, former employees claimed that the company had been delaying wage payments since 2024. Reports said that after labor arbitration, an agreement was reached for installment payments, but it was only implemented for three months. The corporate information platform lists two compulsory execution cases, with the execution amount reported to be approximately 3.45 million yuan (about 690 million won). However, it has not been disclosed whether this amount constitutes unpaid wages.
A2O LITE held its debut showcase at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 12th and released its debut song "NEON" on the 13th. Immediately after their debut, suspicions that A I-jjing's parents' company had failed to pay wages spread, centered around Chinese online communities. The agency, A2O Entertainment, did not issue an official statement.
A I-jjing is a Chinese member born in 2013 who drew attention at the debut showcase for her dance skills and visuals reminiscent of Bo A's early days as a singer. She became a topic of discussion to the extent that she was given the epithet "Little Bo A." Despite her young age of 13, she delivered powerful performances, earning a strong reaction from K-pop fans.
Beijing Sophis Education Technology Co., Ltd., where A I-jjing's mother serves as legal representative and her father as supervisor, is reported to have been embroiled in a wage dispute with employees for the past two years. Taiwanese media outlets including ETtoday reported that the company signed an installment payment agreement following labor mediation but failed to follow through, leading to court-ordered enforcement. The company has reportedly ceased operations.
In China, wage payment issues are often resolved through mediation and arbitration procedures by the labor arbitration committee. When a worker files a claim for unpaid wages, the labor arbitration committee attempts mediation, and if an agreement is reached, a mediation document is drawn up, often with provisions for installment payments.
If the employer fails to implement the mediation agreement, the worker can apply to the court for compulsory execution. In this case involving A I-jjing's parents, it appears that the implementation was halted after the labor arbitration agreement, leading to court-ordered compulsory execution.
Chinese corporate information platforms such as Tianyancha and Qichacha allow users to look up court enforcement cases, information on parties subject to enforcement, and lists of defaulters. In this controversy as well, the platforms confirmed that A I-jjing's parents were listed as subject to enforcement and revealed the enforcement amount.
In China, these platforms allow public verification of the credit status of companies and individuals, and they are reportedly frequently used when debt issues involving celebrities' families arise.
After leaving SM Entertainment, Lee Su-man launched the five-member girl group A2O MAY, composed of Chinese members, in 2024, targeting the Chinese and global markets first. Later, when the three-year non-compete agreement signed in 2023 upon selling his SM stake to Hybe expired in February this year, he returned to Korea, established A2O Entertainment, and began launching idol groups in earnest.
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