South Korean Police Seek Arrest of Hybe Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk Over Investor Fraud Allegations
South Korean police are pursuing the arrest of Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman of Hybe, the agency behind the globally successful K-pop group BTS. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has requested a court warrant for Bang's arrest as part of an investigation into allegations of investor fraud. Bang is accused of misleading investors in 2019 by claiming that Hybe had no plans to go public, which allegedly led investors to sell their shares to a private equity fund. This fund reportedly paid Bang approximately $136 million in a side deal. Despite these allegations, Bang's legal team has expressed regret over the arrest request, maintaining that Bang denies any wrongdoing. This development comes as BTS resumes global activities following a hiatus due to mandatory military service.