Prosecutors Say No to Arrest for Hybe Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk (CEFR Compare)

Apr 24, 2026, 15:20

Prosecutors Say No to Arrest for Hybe Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk

Introduction

Prosecutors in South Korea said no to a police request to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk. He is the chairman of Hybe. Hybe is the company behind the K-pop group BTS. The police wanted to arrest him because they think he did something wrong with money. But prosecutors said there is not enough proof.

Main Body

The problem started in 2019. Police say Bang told people that Hybe did not plan to sell shares. But then the company sold shares. Police think Bang made a secret deal. He got a lot of money from a fund. Bang says he did nothing wrong. Hybe says the share sale was legal. Prosecutors gave the arrest request back to the police. They said there is not enough evidence now. They told police to find more proof. Police will look again and then decide. Bang's lawyers say he helped the investigation. He cannot leave South Korea since August. The US Embassy asked police to let him go to the US. BTS has concerts there. Bang wants to go with them. The case is important. BTS is touring again after a long time. The law says if you do bad things with money, you can go to prison for a long time.

Conclusion

The investigation continues. Police must find more proof before they ask for an arrest again. Bang says he did nothing wrong. He cannot travel outside South Korea. BTS continues its tour.

Vocabulary Learning

arrest (v.)

take someone to a police station because they may have done something illegal逮捕；拘捕

Example:The police wanted to arrest him because they think he did something wrong with money.

evidence (n.)

facts or information used to decide if something is true證據；證供

Example:They said there is not enough evidence now.

investigation (n.)

an official process to find out the truth about something調查

Example:The investigation continues.

proof (n.)

facts or information that show something is true證據；證明

Example:But prosecutors said there is not enough proof.

tour (n.)

a journey to different places for pleasure or work巡迴演出；旅遊

Example:BTS continues its tour.

Sentence Learning

Prosecutors in South Korea said no to a police request to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk.

Prepositional Phrase: The phrase "in South Korea" tells us where the prosecutors are. It adds location information.介詞短語「在南韓」告訴我們檢察官在哪裡。它增加了地點資訊。

The police wanted to arrest him because they think he did something wrong with money.

Reason: The word "because" shows the reason why the police wanted to arrest him. It connects a cause and an effect.連接詞「因為」顯示警察為什麼想要逮捕他。它連接原因和結果。

The problem started in 2019.

Time Marker: The phrase "in 2019" tells us when the problem started. It gives a specific time.時間標記「在2019年」告訴我們問題何時開始。它給出一個具體時間。

He cannot leave South Korea since August.

Time Marker: The phrase "since August" tells us from when he cannot leave South Korea. It shows the starting point of a situation.時間標記「自從八月」告訴我們他從什麼時候開始不能離開南韓。它顯示一個情況的起點。

BTS is touring again after a long time.

Time Marker: The phrase "after a long time" tells us when BTS is touring again. It shows a sequence of events.時間標記「在很長一段時間之後」告訴我們BTS何時再次巡演。它顯示事件的順序。

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

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。

South Korean Prosecutors Reject Arrest Warrant for Hybe Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk Amid Investor Fraud Investigation

Introduction

Prosecutors in South Korea have declined a police request to issue an arrest warrant for Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman and founder of Hybe, the entertainment company behind the K-pop group BTS. The decision was based on a determination that the evidence presented did not sufficiently justify his detention. Bang is under investigation for alleged investor fraud related to the company’s initial public offering.

Main Body

The investigation centers on allegations that in 2019, Bang misled investors by indicating that Hybe had no immediate plans to go public, thereby inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund. Shortly thereafter, the company proceeded with an IPO. Police suspect a side deal in which the fund paid Bang approximately 200 billion won (about £100 million) and promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits. Bang has denied any wrongdoing, and Hybe officials have stated that the IPO was conducted in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office returned the arrest warrant request to the police on Friday, stating that at the current stage there was insufficient evidence to establish the necessity of detention. The prosecution instructed investigators to strengthen their case through a supplementary investigation. Police have indicated they will review whether to reapply for the warrant after completing further inquiries, with decisions to be made in accordance with due process. Bang’s legal team has criticized the police’s attempt to seek his arrest, noting that he has been fully cooperating with the investigation for several months. Bang has been prohibited from leaving South Korea since August, a measure that has restricted his activities. The US Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter to the police requesting that Bang be permitted to travel to the United States to participate in BTS’s world tour, which includes upcoming concerts in Tampa, Florida, following a series of performances in Seoul, Goyang, and Tokyo. The case has drawn attention to Hybe’s public relations environment, particularly as BTS resumes global touring after a nearly four-year hiatus during which its members completed mandatory military service. The Capital Markets Act under which Bang is being investigated prohibits fraudulent or deceptive practices in connection with financial investment products; violations involving profits exceeding 5 billion won carry penalties of life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison.

Conclusion

The investigation into Bang Si-Hyuk remains ongoing, with police directed to conduct additional inquiries before any further action on an arrest warrant. Bang continues to deny the allegations and remains subject to a travel ban, while BTS proceeds with its international tour schedule.

Vocabulary Learning

fraudulent (adj.)

involving deceit or trickery, especially in order to gain money or advantage illegally欺詐的；騙人的

Example:The Capital Markets Act under which Bang is being investigated prohibits fraudulent or deceptive practices in connection with financial investment products.

hiatus (n.)

a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process間斷；停頓

Example:The case has drawn attention to Hybe’s public relations environment, particularly as BTS resumes global touring after a nearly four-year hiatus during which its members completed mandatory military service.

inducing (v.)

to persuade or influence someone to do something, often in a subtle or indirect way誘使；引導

Example:The investigation centers on allegations that in 2019, Bang misled investors by indicating that Hybe had no immediate plans to go public, thereby inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund.

insufficient (adj.)

not enough; inadequate for a purpose不足的；不充分的

Example:The decision was based on a determination that the evidence presented did not sufficiently justify his detention, as there was insufficient evidence to establish the necessity of detention.

supplementary (adj.)

additional; serving to complete or enhance something補充的；附加的

Example:The prosecution instructed investigators to strengthen their case through a supplementary investigation.

Sentence Learning

Complex Subordination with Participial Phrase: The sentence features a noun clause ('that...') as the object of 'allegations', followed by a participial phrase ('thereby inducing...') that expresses the result of the action. This structure adds layers of causality and conciseness.複雜從屬結構附分詞短語：句子包含一個名詞從句（「that...」）作為「allegations」的賓語，隨後是一個分詞短語（「thereby inducing...」）表示動作的結果。這種結構增加了因果層次和簡潔性。

Police suspect a side deal in which the fund paid Bang approximately 200 billion won (about £100 million) and promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits.

Relative Clause: The relative clause 'in which...' modifies 'side deal', providing essential details about the alleged arrangement. The clause contains coordinated verbs ('paid' and 'promised'), demonstrating parallel structure.關係從句：關係從句「in which...」修飾「side deal」，提供有關涉嫌安排的關鍵細節。該從句包含並列動詞（「paid」和「promised」），體現了平行結構。

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office returned the arrest warrant request to the police on Friday, stating that at the current stage there was insufficient evidence to establish the necessity of detention.

Present Participle Phrase: The present participle phrase 'stating that...' functions as an adverbial of attendant circumstance, explaining the rationale behind the action. It contains a subordinate clause ('that...') with a formal nominalization ('necessity of detention').現在分詞短語：現在分詞短語「stating that...」用作伴隨情況狀語，解釋行動背後的理由。它包含一個從句（「that...」），其中帶有正式的名詞化結構（「necessity of detention」）。

The US Embassy in Seoul recently sent a letter to the police requesting that Bang be permitted to travel to the United States to participate in BTS’s world tour, which includes upcoming concerts in Tampa, Florida, following a series of performances in Seoul, Goyang, and Tokyo.

Subjunctive Mood: The verb 'requesting' triggers the mandative subjunctive in the that-clause ('Bang be permitted'), using the base form 'be' instead of 'is'. This is a hallmark of formal, persuasive language. Additionally, the sentence contains a non-restrictive relative clause ('which includes...') and a participial phrase ('following...').虛擬語氣：動詞「requesting」觸發了that從句中的命令式虛擬語氣（「Bang be permitted」），使用原形「be」而非「is」。這是正式、說服性語言的標誌。此外，句子包含一個非限制性關係從句（「which includes...」）和一個分詞短語（「following...」）。

The Capital Markets Act under which Bang is being investigated prohibits fraudulent or deceptive practices in connection with financial investment products; violations involving profits exceeding 5 billion won carry penalties of life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison.

Relative Clause and Semicolonic Coordination: The relative clause 'under which' modifies 'The Capital Markets Act'. A semicolon joins two independent clauses, the second of which contains a participial phrase ('involving profits exceeding...') that specifies the condition for severe penalties. This structure conveys complex legal information efficiently.關係從句與分號並列：關係從句「under which」修飾「The Capital Markets Act」。分號連接兩個獨立子句，第二個子句包含一個分詞短語（「involving profits exceeding...」），具體說明嚴重處罰的條件。這種結構高效地傳達了複雜的法律信息。