Bang Si-hyuk, the founder of Hybe, is facing possible arrest for fraud in connection with the company's 2020 IPO.

Bang Si-hyuk, the founder of the Hybe agency, known for the supergroup BTS, is under the threat of arrest after the South Korean police requested an arrest warrant as part of an investigation into the company's initial public offering (IPO) in 2020. Bang is accused of fraudulent and unfair transactions, having allegedly obtained approximately 190 billion won (129 million dollars) in illicit gains. The investigation focuses on a private capital arrangement that is said to have misled early investors of Hybe, and Bang allegedly directed their shares to a private equity fund linked to his associates. Although he has denied any wrongdoing, Bang has been banned from leaving South Korea since August 2022. Hybe has not yet commented on these events, and the company's shares fell by 2.9% following the announcement of the warrant request. Bang, known as "Hitman Bang," founded Big Hit Entertainment in 2005 and transformed the company into a global pop empire, particularly due to the success of BTS.