Authorities Raid Hybe HQ Amid Fraud, Insider Trading Probes

The trading-focused investigations into Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk and different execs look to be intensifying. According to regional experiences, authorities have carried out a raid of the Ok-pop big’s Seoul headquarters.

As issues stand, we don’t know the exact extent of those investigations. However, it’s been almost six months since native media first linked Bang to scrutiny regarding alleged private-equity aspect offers executed forward of his firm’s 2020 IPO.

Evidently, this scrutiny isn’t letting up. Yesterday, we broke down the standing of the reported allegations – and explored the scenario’s attainable impression on BTS’ full-group comeback.

Long story brief, the Financial Supervisory Service is reportedly contemplating an expedited referral of the Bang case to prosecutors. And a separate police investigation into the identical matter is alleged to be ongoing as properly.

Not coincidentally, details about the initially talked about Hybe HQ raid emerged on the heels of the media-fueled replace on Bang’s case.

According to the Korea Times, Seoul Southern District prosecutors searched Hybe’s workplace in reference to insider-trading allegations towards a distinct exec.

The higher-up, whose identify stays undisclosed, is reportedly accused of pocketing roughly $175,000 in earnings by capitalizing on information of Hybe’s YG Plus funding plans in 2021. Unsurprisingly, the latter entity’s shares (KRX: 037270) spiked in worth after Hybe bought virtually 18% of the enterprise.

Back to the allegations towards Bang, per the Korea Herald, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has submitted a definite search-warrant request to prosecutors over the IPO-fraud claims.

And whereas it most likely doesn’t want saying, it’ll be value protecting an eye fixed out for this comparatively necessary raid and any adjoining revelations. Also roughly implied is that Hybe is cooperating with the investigations, regional shops summed up.

In the larger image, although the scenario seems severe, it actually isn’t with out precedent. During 2024 alone, authorities arrested Kakao’s billionaire founder on stock-manipulation fees stemming from the SM Entertainment takeover battle – after raiding the principle workplaces of each SM and Kakao in 2023.

Meanwhile, YG founder and exec Yang Hyun-suk was indicted final 12 months for allegedly failing to declare a pair of high-end wristwatches upon returning to Korea a decade prior.

Bearing all that in thoughts, Hybe buyers don’t appear too bothered at current. Shares (KRX: 352820) dipped about 2% throughout at this time’s buying and selling however, at $193/₩266,000 a pop, are nonetheless up roughly 36% since 2025’s begin.