Korean Police Seek Arrest Warrant for BTS Agency Founder Bang Si-hyuk Over Alleged Fraudulent Trading
Korean police have sought an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman and founder of BTS agency HYBE, on suspicion of fraudulent and unfair trading. He is alleged to have misled investors before HYBE's IPO and illegally profited approximately 190 billion won. HYBE expressed regret and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 19:55
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 20:01 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 21:04 (1h 2m after Collected)
Central News Agency message
(Central News Agency, Seoul, 21st, comprehensive foreign news report) South Korean police today sought an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of the board and founder of the South Korean entertainment agency HYBE, on suspicion of fraudulent and unfair trading. HYBE's artists include the global K-Pop phenomenon BTS.
Reuters reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated that Bang Si-hyuk is suspected of violating capital market-related laws by misleading investors before HYBE's listing and inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund linked to him.
Police accuse Bang Si-hyuk of receiving 30% of the profits from the sale of shares by the private equity fund after HYBE's stock market listing, illegally obtaining approximately 190 billion Korean won (about 4.06 billion New Taiwan dollars).
According to local media reports, this arrest warrant request will first be reviewed by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. If prosecutors decide to file the request with the court, the court typically holds a hearing within two to three days to decide whether to approve Bang Si-hyuk's arrest.
Bang Si-hyuk had previously denied any wrongdoing.
HYBE issued a statement today expressing regret over the police's request for Bang Si-hyuk's arrest. The company stated that it has fully cooperated with the relevant investigation for a long time and will continue to do so, doing its utmost to explain the company's position.
After the related reports were released, HYBE's stock price turned from gains to losses, ultimately closing down 2.35%; the Korean stock market KOSPI index, however, closed at a historic high today, ending up 2.72%.
In addition, the Korean National Police Agency confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter requesting Korean authorities to allow Bang Si-hyuk to travel to the United States to discuss BTS's global tour. Bang Si-hyuk has been banned from leaving the country since last August. (Compiled by Hong Pei-ying) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the "First-hand News" APP from Central News Agency to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Seoul, 21st, comprehensive foreign news report) South Korean police today sought an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of the board and founder of the South Korean entertainment agency HYBE, on suspicion of fraudulent and unfair trading. HYBE's artists include the global K-Pop phenomenon BTS.
Reuters reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated that Bang Si-hyuk is suspected of violating capital market-related laws by misleading investors before HYBE's listing and inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund linked to him.
Police accuse Bang Si-hyuk of receiving 30% of the profits from the sale of shares by the private equity fund after HYBE's stock market listing, illegally obtaining approximately 190 billion Korean won (about 4.06 billion New Taiwan dollars).
According to local media reports, this arrest warrant request will first be reviewed by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. If prosecutors decide to file the request with the court, the court typically holds a hearing within two to three days to decide whether to approve Bang Si-hyuk's arrest.
Bang Si-hyuk had previously denied any wrongdoing.
HYBE issued a statement today expressing regret over the police's request for Bang Si-hyuk's arrest. The company stated that it has fully cooperated with the relevant investigation for a long time and will continue to do so, doing its utmost to explain the company's position.
After the related reports were released, HYBE's stock price turned from gains to losses, ultimately closing down 2.35%; the Korean stock market KOSPI index, however, closed at a historic high today, ending up 2.72%.
In addition, the Korean National Police Agency confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter requesting Korean authorities to allow Bang Si-hyuk to travel to the United States to discuss BTS's global tour. Bang Si-hyuk has been banned from leaving the country since last August. (Compiled by Hong Pei-ying) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the "First-hand News" APP from Central News Agency to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.