South Korean police have sought an arrest warrant against Bang Si Hyuk, chairman of entertainment giant HYBE, in connection with alleged investor fraud.
HYBE houses several labels that manage global K-pop groups such as BTS, ENHYPEN, KATSEYE, SEVENTEEN, NewJeans, and LE SSERAFIM, among others.
Read: Heeseung leaves ENHYPEN to pursue solo career
According to a report by Soompi.com on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Financial Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it had requested an arrest warrant for Bang Si Hyuk.
Bang Si Hyuk is accused of allegedly misleading HYBE investors—when the company was still known as Big Hit Entertainment—by stating that there were no plans for an initial public offering (IPO) prior to its stock market listing.
Read: SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan defends co-idols amid HYBE controversy
As a result, shareholders sold their shares to a specific private equity fund.
However, HYBE proceeded with its IPO in 2020 shortly afterward.
Authorities claim that, under a private agreement previously arranged with the private equity fund, Bang Si Hyuk allegedly received 30 percent of the profits from the sale of shares following the IPO.
He allegedly earned illicit profits amounting to 190 billion won (approximately PHP7.7 billion) from share transactions conducted before the company went public.
Read: NewJeans leaves ADOR, HYBE; reassures fans activities to proceed
Bang Si Hyuk’s legal representative issues statement
Following these, Bang Si Hyuk’s legal representative expressed regret over the police request for an arrest warrant, noting that the HYBE chairman had been cooperating with investigators throughout the probe.
The statement read (as per English translation by Soompi.com): “It is regrettable that an arrest warrant has been requested despite his sincere cooperation with the investigation over a long period of time.
"We will faithfully participate in future legal proceedings and do our utmost to clarify the facts."
Bang Si Hyuk was first summoned for questioning in September 2025 and has reportedly been banned from leaving South Korea since August of the same year.