Overview
- Seoul Metropolitan Police asked prosecutors on Tuesday to seek a court warrant to arrest HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk in a criminal investor-fraud investigation.
- Investigators allege that in 2019 he told early investors HYBE had no plans to list, they sold to a private-equity fund tied to associates, the fund later sold after the IPO, and Bang received about 30% of the gains worth roughly 190 billion won.
- The probe has included searches in 2025 at HYBE and other sites, repeated police interrogations of Bang, and a travel ban that has kept him from leaving South Korea since August.
- Bang and HYBE deny wrongdoing and say they have cooperated with investigators, while Yonhap reported the U.S. Embassy asked police to allow a temporary trip for BTS-related duties during the band’s tour.
- HYBE shares fell after the arrest request reports, and the case adds reputational pressure as BTS restarts a global tour that draws intense attention to the company’s leadership.