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2h ago

Police Bar HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk From Leaving South Korea in IPO Stock-Fraud Probe

Investigators say a pre-IPO share deal tied to a special purpose company yielded roughly 190 billion won for Bang.

Bang Si-hyuk, founder of K-pop management agency Big Hit Entertainment who manage K-pop sensation BTS, speaks during the company's initial public offering ceremony at the Korea Exchange in Seoul on October 15, 2020.
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Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of Hybe, appears for police questioning at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's office in western Seoul on Sept. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed a travel restriction, with local reports saying it began on Aug. 11 when Bang returned to Seoul.
  • Police allege Bang misled 2019 investors about listing plans, steering their shares to an SPC linked to HYBE executives.
  • Investigators estimate he personally gained about 190 billion won through a prearranged profit share from the SPC’s resale of shares.
  • Detectives seized IPO-review records in raids at the Korea Exchange on June 30 and at HYBE’s Yongsan headquarters on July 24.
  • Bang was questioned as a suspect on Sept. 15 and 22, prosecutors are reviewing whether to indict, and he and HYBE deny any legal violations.