What is Bang Si-hyuk accused of in the HYBE shareholder case?

He is accused of deceiving investors into selling their HYBE stakes in 2019 before the company went public. Police said the conduct may amount to a violation of the Capital Markets Act and led to nearly 200 billion won in alleged illegal profits.

When did police investigate Bang Si-hyuk over the alleged HYBE stock fraud?

Police said the investigation began in December 2024 and became a full-scale probe in July last year. That probe included a raid on HYBE headquarters, and the case is now being sent to prosecutors.

Will Bang Si-hyuk be detained when the HYBE case is referred to prosecutors?

Sources close to the issue said police were expected to refer the case without seeking his detention. The police chief also said the file would be sent to prosecutors within the week.

HYBE chairman to be referred to prosecution over alleged deception of shareholders: police

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Summary

Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, will be referred to the prosecution this week over allegations that he deceived investors into selling their shares before the company went public. Police said he is suspected of violating the Capital Markets Act and making nearly 200 billion won in illegal profits. Investigators began the case in December 2024 and carried out a full-scale probe in July last year, including a raid on HYBE headquarters. Sources said police were expected to refer the case without seeking his detention.

Key Facts

Hong Seok-ki, head of the National Office of Investigation, said the case would be forwarded to prosecutors within the week.
Police said the allegation involves violations of the Capital Markets Act linked to HYBE’s 2019 pre-IPO shareholder sales.
Investigators said the suspected illegal profit was nearly 200 billion won, or $145 million.
Police launched the investigation in December 2024 and began a full-scale probe in July last year, including a raid on HYBE headquarters.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 31, 2026 3:49 pm KST

Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, answers reporters' questions after arriving at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seoul, Sept. 15, 2025, over allegations of violating the Capital Markets Act. Korea Times photo by Kang Ye-jin

Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, will be referred to the prosecution this week for possible indictment on suspicion of deceiving investors into selling their stakes in his company, police said Monday.

"We plan to forward the case to the prosecution within the week," Hong Seok-ki, head of the National Office of Investigation, told a press briefing.

Bang is accused of violating the Capital Markets Act by deceiving investors into selling their stakes in Hybe in 2019, just before the company went public, making nearly 200 billion won ($145 million) in additional and illegal profits.

Police launched an investigation into the allegations in December 2024 and began a full-scale probe in July of last year, which included a raid on Hybe headquarters.

Their investigation was prolonged after the prosecution requested supplementary investigations while rejecting two arrest warrant requests filed by the police.

Sources close to the issue said the police were expected to refer Bang's case to the prosecution without seeking his detention.

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