South Korean police are seeking to arrest bang si-hyuk as they widen an investigation into allegations that he illegally gained more than $100 million in an investor fraud scheme. The Seoul metropolitan police agency confirmed it had asked prosecutors to request a court warrant for the HYBE founder and chair, with the move coming amid scrutiny of the company’s 2020 public listing. Bang si-hyuk’s legal team did not directly address the accusations, but said it regretted that police were seeking his arrest despite what it described as full and consistent cooperation.
Police Push for Warrant as Inquiry Intensifies
The case centers on allegations that bang si-hyuk misled investors in 2019 by saying HYBE had no plans to go public, prompting them to sell shares to a private equity fund before the company proceeded with an initial public offering. Police believe the fund may have paid Bang about 200 billion won, or $136 million, in a side deal that promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits. The investigation has been under way since November, and police have also said the probe is essentially complete.
to the, Bang’s legal team said it would continue to cooperate with all legal procedures and make every effort to clearly explain its position. Hybe has not yet released a public response to the latest development. The company’s shares fell as much as 2. 9% in trading after the warrant request became public.
Immediate Reaction From Bang Si-hyuk’s Legal Team
Bang si-hyuk has previously denied any wrongdoing, and the legal pressure marks a significant setback for one of the most influential figures in K-pop. The arrest request follows months of expanding scrutiny from South Korean authorities, including a probe that began with financial regulators examining whether undisclosed profit-sharing agreements were arranged ahead of HYBE’s listing.
In a formal response, Bang’s legal team said: “We will continue to cooperate with all legal procedures and make every effort to clearly explain our position. ” That statement did not directly confront the fraud allegations, but it underscored the defense’s intent to contest the case while the legal process moves forward.
How the HYBE Probe Reached This Point
Police raided HYBE’s Seoul headquarters in July 2025, and Bang voluntarily returned to South Korea the following month to cooperate. In December, the Seoul Southern District Court approved a provisional seizure of his HYBE shares worth 156. 8 billion won, about $118 million. Bang has also been barred from leaving South Korea since August of last year as the inquiry progressed.
The wider significance is hard to miss: Bang si-hyuk founded Big Hit Entertainment, HYBE’s predecessor, in 2005 and built it into a global entertainment powerhouse. The company’s legal troubles now land as BTS is in the early stages of a sold-out comeback tour after nearly four years away, making the timing especially sensitive for HYBE and its flagship act.
What Happens Next
The next step now rests with prosecutors and the court, which will decide whether to approve the arrest warrant request for bang si-hyuk. If the warrant is granted, the case could deepen one of the most closely watched corporate investigations in South Korea’s music industry. If it is denied, the investigation is still likely to continue, with bang si-hyuk remaining at the center of a case that has already carried major financial and reputational consequences.
