A2O LITE member Aijing has become the focus of an online controversy days after the nine member girl group made its debut, following allegations that an education company previously operated by her parents failed to pay employees and accumulated millions of yuan in outstanding debts. Her mother, Zhang Jing, issued a public apology on October 14, acknowledging the financial disputes and promising to work towards resolving them.
The controversy emerged just one day after A2O LITE released its debut single, “NEON,” on October 13. The song subsequently reached the top of Melon’s TOP100 chart at 11pm on October 14, according to the reported chart results. While the group attracted attention for its music and performances, allegations concerning Aijing’s family business quickly became a separate source of discussion among Chinese internet users.
Aijing, whose Chinese name is Sheng Aijing, is a 13 year old Chinese member of the group. She has attracted attention for her dance performances and appearance, with some fans comparing her to South Korean singer BoA and calling her “Little BoA.” The allegations against her parents have since prompted criticism online, with some users questioning the family’s financial conduct and others calling for Aijing to leave the group.
Neither the online criticism nor the allegations against the family establish that Aijing herself was involved in the reported business disputes. Her mother has explicitly argued that the responsibility belongs to the parents and should not be transferred to their daughter.
Aijing’s mother acknowledges financial disputes
On Wednesday, October 14, Zhang Jing published a statement on Chinese social media addressing the allegations surrounding the family’s former education business.
Zhang acknowledged responsibility for the financial disputes and apologised to those affected. She explained that the company’s financial position had deteriorated sharply, creating serious operational difficulties and leaving it facing debt related disputes.
“Regardless of the circumstances, failing to pay the amounts owed on time was a mistake that I must face and take responsibility for,” Zhang said.
Her statement recognised that the company’s financial problems did not excuse its failure to meet payment obligations. She also said she had begun contacting the parties involved to discuss possible solutions.
Zhang pledged not to avoid responsibility until the outstanding issues had been resolved. However, her public statement did not, in the information available, establish that all the reported debts had been repaid or provide a timetable for settling them.
The apology came as the allegations continued to circulate online. For people claiming unpaid wages or other outstanding payments, the central question is whether the company will fulfil its obligations and what arrangements will be made to resolve the disputes.
Zhang also sought to protect her daughter from being held responsible for the company’s affairs. She said the business had been operated by the parents and that any responsibility arising from its activities should remain with them.
“The responsibility for this matter should be borne by us, the parents, and properly resolved by us. My child has nothing to do with the business I previously operated or the related disputes,” she said.
The statement drew a clear distinction between the family’s business problems and Aijing’s work as an entertainer. It did not, however, end the online debate over the allegations.
Reports cite debts of 3.45 million yuan
Chinese internet users alleged that an education company previously operated by Aijing’s parents in Beijing had failed to pay employees their wages. Zhang and Aijing’s father, Sheng Jiachuan, were reportedly involved in the company’s operations.
Reports circulating online stated that the company had been subject to court enforcement proceedings involving outstanding debts totalling approximately 3.45 million yuan.
The reported amount has become a central part of the controversy, with critics demanding repayment and questioning how the family’s financial circumstances intersected with Aijing’s entertainment career.
Court enforcement proceedings generally concern efforts to secure compliance with financial obligations or judgments. However, the reported figure alone does not establish the full circumstances of each claim, the identity of every creditor or the current status of the proceedings.
The available account of the allegations does not provide a complete breakdown of the reported debt or independently establish how much, if any, has since been settled. Zhang’s statement acknowledged financial disputes and a failure to make payments on time, but further documentation would be needed to determine the status of individual claims.
The distinction matters because online discussion has combined allegations about unpaid wages, reported court enforcement action and criticism of Aijing’s professional opportunities. Those issues are related in the public debate, but they are not interchangeable.
Employees seeking outstanding wages have a direct interest in whether the company pays what it owes. By contrast, questions about Aijing’s performances, advertisements and acting appearances concern her career and do not, by themselves, establish whether she knew about or participated in her parents’ business dealings.
Online criticism spreads to Aijing’s career
As details of the reported financial disputes circulated, some Chinese internet users questioned how Aijing had been able to take part in overseas competitions and appear in advertisements and television dramas while the company associated with her parents allegedly faced unpaid obligations.
Other users directed their criticism at A2O LITE, with some demanding that Aijing leave the group. Calls for repayment also appeared in the online discussion.
The controversy illustrates the pressure that can fall on young performers when allegations involving their families become public. Aijing is only 13, yet she has become the subject of criticism linked to a business she says, through her mother’s statement, has no connection to her professional activities.
There is an important distinction between examining the conduct of a business and assigning responsibility to a family member who has not been shown to have participated in it. The allegations described so far concern the education company and the actions of Aijing’s parents, not established wrongdoing by the young performer.
At the same time, her growing public profile means that the controversy could affect how audiences respond to the group. A2O LITE launched with a high level of attention surrounding its music, image and members. The allegations have introduced a separate issue that the group and its supporters must now contend with.
The public response also places attention on Zhang’s commitment to resolving the disputes. An apology can acknowledge harm and establish an intention to act, but people who are owed money will ultimately need concrete arrangements and payments rather than statements alone.
A2O LITE launches under Lee Soo-man’s new company
A2O LITE was formed under A2O Entertainment, the company established by former SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man in 2024 after his departure from the South Korean entertainment company.
The group consists of nine members from different national and cultural backgrounds. Its debut forms part of Lee’s efforts to develop an entertainment business with an international reach.
The group’s name, A2O, stands for “Alpha To Omega,” referring to the progression from the first to the last letters of the Greek alphabet. Its concept combines a youthful image with futuristic styling and energetic performances.
The debut single “NEON” was released on October 13, 2026. The reported rise to the top of Melon’s TOP100 chart at 11pm the following day gave the group an early chart milestone in South Korea.
Aijing has been one of the members attracting attention, particularly for her dancing and comparisons with BoA. The nickname “Little BoA” reflects the interest in her performance style and potential as a young entertainer.
The controversy surrounding her parents has now become part of the public conversation about the group, although it remains separate from the reported chart performance of its debut song. No information in the account provided establishes that the allegations have affected the group’s official activities or resulted in a change to its lineup.
What happens next?
Zhang has said she is contacting the parties involved and intends to take responsibility for resolving the outstanding financial issues. The next meaningful development will be whether those efforts lead to documented settlements and payments to people who claim they are owed money.
For Aijing, the dispute raises questions about the limits of public accountability when allegations concern a parent’s business rather than the young person’s own conduct. The available information does not establish that she was involved in operating the education company or responsible for its debts.
A2O LITE has only just begun its career, with “NEON” marking the group’s first official release. Whether the controversy continues to affect public discussion of the group may depend partly on how the reported financial disputes are addressed.
For now, Zhang’s apology has acknowledged the problem but has not, on its own, confirmed that the reported debts have been cleared. Will the family provide further details of the repayment process, and can the outstanding claims be resolved without placing responsibility on Aijing for her parents’ business affairs?