HYBE’s founder Bang Si-hyuk was summoned for police questioning on September 15, 2025 by Seoul’s Financial Crimes Investigation Unit over claims tied to HYBE’s 2020 IPO. Investigators believe he misled early shareholders in 2019 by assuring them there would be no public listing, prompting some to sell their shares. Then, as IPO plans progressed, those shares were allegedly transferred to a private equity fund tied to him, which later sold them after HYBE’s public debut.
Police estimate this could have cost investors dearly. The amount under scrutiny is roughly 190 billion Korean won (around USD 136-140 million), believed to include profits from those share transfers. Bang delivered a public apology saying he’s sorry for causing concern and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
This marks one of several investigations into HYBE’s IPO practices, following previous regulatory referrals and audits. The case raises questions about transparency in how agencies manage information about IPOs, especially when investors are involved.
Arms folded, we’re watching closely.
