'Little BoA' Aichin, hit with parents' 'margin investing (investing with debt)' scandal right after debut... Personal information spreads in China [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Aichin, a member of the rookie girl group A2O LITE produced by producer Lee Soo-man, has been embroiled in suspicions of wage arrears involving her parents shortly after her debut. The controversy continues as personal information about her parents spreads locally in China.

A2O LITE, which debuted on the 13th, became a topic of conversation by reaching No. 1 on the Top 100 chart of Melon, a domestic music streaming site, within 29 hours with 'NEON.' However, suspicions of wage arrears surrounding Aichin's parents were raised immediately after her debut, placing her at the center of the controversy.

Local Chinese media reported suspicions that employees had not been paid their wages at an education company in Beijing operated by Aichin's parents. According to the reports, the amount subject to court-ordered enforcement confirmed under the names of the company and her parents is known to be approximately 3.45 million yuan (approximately 690 million won).

Former employees claimed that the company had failed to pay wages since 2024. After labor mediation, the company agreed to repay the wages in installments, but they said it only paid three months' worth before delaying payments again. Aichin's mother served as the representative of an education company in Beijing, while her father is reported to have worked as an auditor at the company.

The controversy erupted when a post by Person A, who claimed to have worked at Aichin's parents' company, spread on Chinese social media. Person A claimed that they demanded unpaid wages to hold their father's funeral but only received 1,000 yuan (approximately 200,000 won) from the company side.

They also stated that despite working for several years and even doing overtime, they were paid only a portion of their wages, and when they protested to the company, they were only told there was no money.

As the controversy grew, a person identifying themselves as Aichin's mother posted an apology on social media on the 14th, stating, "I previously ran an education-related business, but as the management situation deteriorated rapidly, the company fell into serious financial difficulties, leading to debt disputes." They added, "I will not evade responsibility until all issues are resolved and will take responsibility to the end. My child has nothing to do with this. I sincerely apologize."

However, the controversy shows no signs of subsiding. On Chinese online platforms, photos and personal information about Aichin's mother have spread, amplifying the impact.

Chinese media outlet Yangcheng Evening News also voiced criticism. The outlet stated, "Separating debt from a child does not mean responsibility disappears," mentioning that Aichin participated in a world dance competition held in the United States and shot a Nike advertisement. It further pointed out, "On the other hand, they were repaying employee wages in installments but stopped payments after three months. Where was the money prioritized?"

Meanwhile, Aichin's agency, A2O Entertainment, has not issued an official statement regarding this controversy.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original