1 month ago
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors connected Friday rejected a constabulary petition for an apprehension warrant for euphony tycoon Bang Si-Hyuk, president of nan agency down K-pop supergroup BTS, questioning whether detention is basal arsenic he faces a high-profile investigation into alleged investor fraud.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency asked prosecutors earlier this week to petition a tribunal warrant to apprehension Bang, nan billionaire laminitis and president of Hybe.
The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said that it recovered that nan petition lacked capable grounds to warrant his detention and instructed constabulary investigators to fortify their case.
Bang Si-Hyuk, a president of Hybe, answers reporters’ questions upon his presence astatine nan Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency successful Seoul, South Korea, connected Sept. 15, 2025. AP
Magazines featuring BTS are pictured astatine K-Pop Nabi connected April 23, 2026, successful Tampa, Florida. ZUMAPRESS.comBang, who has been barred from leaving nan state since August, isn’t seen arsenic a realistic threat to flee.
The 53-year-old is being investigated complete allegations that he misled investors successful 2019 by indicating that Hybe had nary contiguous plans to spell public, prompting them to waste their shares to a backstage equity fund, soon earlier nan institution proceeded pinch an first nationalist offering.
Police judge that nan money whitethorn person paid Bang location astir 200 cardinal won ($135 million) successful a broadside woody that promised him 30% of post-IPO banal waste profits.
Bang denies immoderate wrongdoing, Hybe officials say. Bang’s ineligible squad had criticized constabulary for seeking his arrest, saying that he has been afloat cooperating pinch nan investigation for months.
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Bang’s ineligible troubles are a nationalist relations setback for Hybe, coming arsenic BTS launches a world circuit aft a astir four-year hiatus arsenic its 7 members served their mandatory subject service.
BTS performed successful beforehand of tens of thousands of world fans astatine a free comeback concert in Seoul past period and person besides held concerts successful South Korea’s Goyang metropolis and Tokyo.
The group will footwear disconnected a bid of US events pinch a performance successful Tampa, Florida, complete nan weekend.
