BTS agency HYBE raided over alleged fraud trading

Pedestrians stroll alongside the signposting for Hybe, the desk behind Okay-Pop Megastars BTS, displayed exterior the headquarters of the corporate in Seoul on July 24, 2025. Hybe, the workplace behind Okay-Pop Superstars BTS, stated on July 24 by the police on July 24, in reference to alleged fraudulent commerce within the founder Bang Si-Hyuk. (Photograph by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

HybeThe workplace behind Okay-Pop Superstars BTS, was robbed by the police on Thursday in reference to alleged fraudulent commerce wherein the founder was concerned Bang Si-Hyukstated researchers.

“We carry out a search and seizure at Hybe’s head workplace within the Yongsan district,” stated the Seoul police in a brief assertion.

Bang, the mind behind BTS, is being investigated for accusations that he misled early traders to make an unlawful revenue of the primary public supply of 2020 of the corporate.

He’s accused of gaining round 200 billion (US $ 146 million) through the course of, in line with native experiences.

Hybe has scared and dedicated misconduct.

“We’ll dutifully make clear that the supply was being carried out at the moment in accordance with all related legal guidelines and rules,” the corporate stated firstly of July and promised “lively cooperation” with authorities to succeed in the underside of the case.

Bang would the early traders of Hybe, who led pre-ipo shares, led by telling them in 2019 that he had no plans to make the corporate public.

He would then have inspired them to promote their shares in non-public fairness funds, whereas IPO plan was actually within the making.

Hybe grew to become public in 2020, after the shareholders had bought their pursuits.

The 52-year-old is secretly accused of closing a take care of the non-public fairness funds to obtain a part of the revenue they’ve product of promoting shares after the IPO.

2026 Comeback

The analysis is as a result of all seven BTS members full their necessary army service and put together for a comeback subsequent yr.

Hybe introduced this month {that a} new album and world excursions have been deliberate for 2026.

BTS, recognized for defending progressive causes, holds the file and essentially the most streamed group on Spotify and have become the primary Okay-popact that exceeds each the 200- and Billboard artist 100-hit lists in the USA.

Earlier than their army service, BTS generated greater than 5.5 trillion ($ 4 billion) in annual financial influence, in line with the Korea Tradition and Tourism Institute.

In response to official information, that’s round 0.2 % of the overall GDP of South Korea.

There was a dialogue about whether or not BTS ought to obtain exemptions from army service – generally granted to Olympic medal winners and classical artists who win prime worldwide prizes – however pop stars don’t qualify among the many South Korean legal guidelines.

With the dearth of the general public consensus on this, the members have been adopted individually, beginning on the finish of 2022.