Police Seek Arrest Warrant Against Bang Si-Hyuk, HYBE Founder Behind BTS and KATSEYE

BTS has just made its successful comeback with Arirang last March, and with the new album came a highly anticipated world tour. Things are certainly looking up for the global group. However, the same could not be said about the very man who formed it.

The Financial Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on April 21 that it has requested an arrest warrant for Bang Si-Hyuk. For the uninitiated, he is the mastermind behind BTS, and it has become the group that propelled his entertainment company, HYBE, into global success. Today, the company plays a significant role in managing artists like Seventeen, Tomorrow x Together, Le Sserafim, and Katseye.

The chairman is being accused of misleading investors back when HYBE was still known as Big Hit Entertainment. The case dates back to 2019. Si-Hyuk stated that there were no plans for an initial public offering (IPO), which led the shareholders to sell their shares to a specific private equity fund. And yet, in 2020, they proceeded with their IPO and went public.

Authorities claim that the K-pop mogul received 30 percent of the profits from the sale, resulting in earnings of nearly ₩200 billion, or approximately Php 8.15 billion. These profits may be illegal, as they were allegedly a result of deception.

The 53-year-old businessman has been under a travel ban since August 2025 due to the ongoing investigation involving him. His legal representative has issued a brief statement, saying, “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.”