Bang Si-hyuk Faces Arrest Warrant:The South Korean police department has submitted an official request for an arrest warrant against HYBE chairman and founder Bang Si Hyuk because officials are investigating his role in suspected unfair trading activities which resulted in defrauding investors before the company went public.
The latest development has drawn major attention across the K-pop and business worlds because HYBE serves as the entertainment powerhouse which manages BTS SEVENTEEN and LE SSERAFIM among other global music acts.
Bang Si-hyuk Faces Arrest Warrant Request
Multiple South Korean and international news outlets report that the financial crimes unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency submitted its request on April 21 2026. The authorities accuse Bang Si Hyuk of deceiving early HYBE investors during 2019 when he told them the company would not pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the near future.
Investigators claim that some shareholders were then encouraged to sell their stakes to a private equity fund reportedly linked to Bang’s associates. Following its 2020 IPO launch HYBE issued its stock to the fund which afterward sold its shares for profit. Police suspect Bang received around 30% of those gains through a prior agreement. Authorities estimate that illegal earnings amount to approximately 190 billion won which equals between 129 million and 136 million US dollars based on current exchange rates.
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Bang Si Hyuk’s Legal Representative Issues Statement
After the news about the warrant request was made public Bang Si Hyuk’s legal team issued a statement that showed their disappointment about the decision.
A statement from HYBE citing Bang’s legal counsel said on Tuesday: “We regret that a detention warrant has been sought despite our full and consistent cooperation with the investigation over an extended period.
“We will continue to cooperate with all legal procedures and make every effort to clearly explain our position,” it said.
The statement explained that it was “regrettable” because authorities issued a detention warrant despite Bang’s continuous and complete cooperation during the entire investigation. His legal team also stated they would continue cooperating with all legal procedures and work to explain their position clearly.
Has Bang Si Hyuk Been Arrested?
As of now Bang Si Hyuk has not been arrested. The police request does not automatically mean detention.
Prosecutors will conduct the initial evaluation of the warrant request. A South Korean court will conduct a hearing to determine if an arrest warrant should be issued if prosecutors choose to proceed with the case. The court must give its final approval before the process can continue.
Reports indicate Bang has been under investigation since late 2025 and has already been questioned multiple times by authorities. Several outlets also reported that he has faced travel restrictions during the probe.
