Police Seek Arrest of Hybe Founder Bang Si-hyuk
Police asked prosecutors to seek an arrest warrant accusing Bang of misleading investors before Hybe's October 2020 IPO amid allegations of about 200 billion won in illicit proceeds.
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USA TODAYBTS agency founder faces arrest in Korean illegal trading probe
New York PostK-pop mogul behind BTS wanted by police for alleged $100M investor fraud scheme
ABC NewsSouth Korean police seek to arrest K-pop mogul behind BTS
Overview
South Korean police said Tuesday they asked prosecutors to request a court warrant to arrest Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of Hybe, in an expanded investigation into alleged illegal trading.
Police allege Bang misled early investors in 2019 ahead of Hybe's October 2020 IPO and that he received about 200 billion won (roughly $136 million) through a side deal.
Bang denies wrongdoing; his lawyers said they regret the warrant request, Hybe said it is cooperating with investigators, and Bang has been barred from traveling abroad since August.
Industry watchers estimate Hybe could make more than $1 billion from BTS's sold-out comeback world tour, which will take the group to 34 cities.
The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office will review the police warrant request, and if prosecutors seek a detention warrant a court typically holds a hearing on a potential arrest within three days.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this story neutrally, presenting police actions, alleged charges, and Bang’s legal response without loaded language. They balance factual background—company history, BTS tour, and past corporate disputes—with explicit attribution to police, prosecutors and legal statements, avoiding editorializing and privileging allegations over sourced denials or court records.