South Korean Prosecutors Reject Arrest Warrant for Hybe Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk in Investor Fraud Case

Apr 24, 2026, 15:20

Introduction

Prosecutors in South Korea have refused a police request to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman and founder of Hybe, the company behind BTS. They said the evidence was not strong enough to detain him. Bang is being investigated for allegedly cheating investors during the company's initial public offering (IPO).

Main Body

The investigation focuses on claims that in 2019, Bang misled investors by saying Hybe had no immediate plans to go public. This caused them to sell their shares to a private equity fund. Shortly after, the company launched its IPO. Police suspect a secret deal where the fund paid Bang about 200 billion won (around £100 million) and promised him 30% of profits from selling shares after the IPO. Bang has denied any wrongdoing. Hybe officials have emphasized that the IPO followed all legal and regulatory requirements. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office returned the arrest warrant request to the police on Friday. They stated that at this stage, there was not enough evidence to justify detention. Furthermore, they instructed investigators to strengthen their case through additional inquiries. Police have indicated they will review whether to request the warrant again after completing further investigations, following due process. Bang's legal team has criticized the police's attempt to arrest him, noting that he has fully cooperated with the investigation for several months. As a result, Bang has been banned from leaving South Korea since August, which has limited his activities. The US Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter to the police asking that Bang be allowed to travel to the US for BTS's world tour, which includes concerts in Tampa, Florida, after shows in Seoul, Goyang, and Tokyo.

Conclusion

The investigation continues. Police have been directed to conduct more inquiries before any further action on an arrest warrant. Bang maintains his innocence and remains under a travel ban, while BTS proceeds with its international tour schedule.

Vocabulary Learning

allegedly (adv.)
supposedly / used to describe something that someone claims happened, but has not been proved涉嫌；據稱
Example:Bang is being investigated for allegedly cheating investors during the IPO.
detain (v.)
keep in custody / to officially prevent someone from leaving a place, especially a police station or prison拘留；扣押
Example:The evidence was not strong enough to detain him.
justify (v.)
give good reason for / to show that something is reasonable or necessary證明…正當；為…辯護
Example:There was not enough evidence to justify detention.
misled (v.)
deceived / to cause someone to believe something that is not true誤導；欺騙
Example:Bang misled investors by saying Hybe had no immediate plans to go public.
reject (v.)
refuse to accept / to say no to something or someone拒絕
Example:South Korean prosecutors rejected the police request to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk.

Sentence Learning

Bang is being investigated for allegedly cheating investors during the company's initial public offering (IPO).
Passive Voice: The present continuous passive 'is being investigated' shifts focus from the doer to the action, common in formal reporting.被動語態：現在進行式被動語態 'is being investigated' 將焦點從動作執行者轉移到動作本身，常見於正式報導。
As a result, Bang has been banned from leaving South Korea since August, which has limited his activities.
Linking word 'As a result' shows cause-effect; Passive voice 'has been banned'; Relative clause 'which has limited' adds extra information.連接詞 'As a result' 表示因果關係；被動語態 'has been banned'；關係從句 'which has limited' 補充額外資訊。
The US Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter to the police asking that Bang be allowed to travel to the US for BTS's world tour, which includes concerts in Tampa, Florida, after shows in Seoul, Goyang, and Tokyo.
Passive subjunctive 'be allowed' expresses a request; Relative clause 'which includes' describes the tour.被動虛擬語氣 'be allowed' 表達請求；關係從句 'which includes' 描述巡演內容。
Police have been directed to conduct more inquiries before any further action on an arrest warrant.
Passive Voice: Present perfect passive 'have been directed' emphasizes the instruction without specifying who gave it.被動語態：現在完成式被動語態 'have been directed' 強調指示內容，不指明指示者。
Bang maintains his innocence and remains under a travel ban, while BTS proceeds with its international tour schedule.
Linking word 'while' contrasts two simultaneous situations: Bang's restriction versus BTS's activity.連接詞 'while' 對比兩個同時發生的情況：Bang 的限制與 BTS 的活動。