Since the beginning of this year, HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk has been embroiled in a legal controversy with public authorities over the company’s 2019 initial public offering (IPO).

Bang is suspected of having earned approximately 190 billion won (about USD 131 million) through a fraudulent deal with a private equity fund ahead of the IPO.

Police allege that Bang intentionally concealed or misrepresented information to gain personal financial benefits. If the allegations are proven true, his actions could constitute securities fraud or investment deceit under South кσяєαn law — offenses that carry a potential prison sentence ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

In July, ρσℓι¢є raided HYBE’s headquarters to collect evidence. In early October, Bang was banned from leaving the country. Since September, the HYBE chairman has been summoned for questioning at least three times, including two sessions in September and the most recent one on Wednesday, November 5, during which Bang reportedly underwent over 13 hours of interrogation.

When asked by reporters about his statement to the ρσℓι¢є, whether he had admitted to deceiving investors, and whether additional questioning was expected, Bang declined to answer and left the premises with his security team. Meanwhile, according to South кσяєαn media reports, ρσℓι¢є are currently reviewing the possibility of requesting an arrest warrant based on his testimony.

Surprisingly, following these developments, a significant number of South кσяєαns have voiced opposition to the authorities’ repeated summons of the HYBE chairman. In an opinion piece titled “Hallyu’s Rise, National Dignity, and Tolerance for Bang Si-hyuk”, Kim Soon-hwan (Editor-in-Chief of Pinpoint News) wrote: “Many BTS fans and members of the public felt disheartened watching this unfold, believing it is regrettable that ‘artist Bang Si-hyuk,’ who is neither a financial nor accounting expert, continues to be called in for questioning.”

The article analyzed Bang’s contribution to кσяєαn culture: “As everyone knows, Bang is a genius artist who has elevated the national prestige of South кσяєα to a ‘quantum leap.’ Through BTS, he used music to connect the world, spearheading the global Hallyu phenomenon. The fact that Hallyu has become a mainstream force in the global cultural content market — once dominated by the U.S. and Europe — is a result of his vision and effort. No one can deny Bang Si-hyuk’s immense contribution in enhancing the image of кσяєα — a small nation in the Far East — on the world stage. Moreover, he remains a central figure in the continued global expansion of the кσяєαn entertainment industry.”

Kim also emphasized: “The K-pop stars nurtured by Bang — including BTS — did not achieve global acclaim solely because of their songs, fashion, or looks. Nor did they rise to fame through mere fantasy or exotic curiosity. These genius artists built a culture infused with кσяєαn sensibilities that resonates globally.

The resilient spirit of the кσяєαn people — overcoming hardship and adversity — has touched hearts worldwide. This is the result of the sweat, tears, and burning pαѕѕion of creators like Bang Si-hyuk. Therefore, the sense of regret upon seeing him undergo a third round of questioning is certainly not mine alone.”

He continued: “кσяєα has endured the painful scars of colonialism and imperialism in the past century. Having overcome that suffering, the nation now stands firm on the global stage. Therefore, it is our responsibility to sustain and nurture the Hallyu wave so that it remains a lasting cultural force. That means actively supporting and empowering genius artists like Bang Si-hyuk — because doing so is also a way to safeguard the ‘national dignity’ we are proud of today.

In the era of Hallyu, we must not bring about crisis by investigating the very person who helped create it. We should not let small drops of water combine into a stream that destroys the dam — such folly should not seep into K-pop or K-drama. Doing so would only pour cold water on Hallyu and trigger what could be described as a ‘disaster of national dignity.’”

Kim further stressed: “Artist Bang Si-hyuk, who produced exceptional K-pop acts such as BTS, has achieved what even the British, French, Germans, and נαραиese could not — bringing Hallyu into the mainstream of global culture. As a key figure behind Hallyu’s rise and the nation’s elevated status, it is time to stop repeatedly summoning him before authorities over management-related issues.

If кσяєαn society aims to stand alongside advanced nations, tolerance and respect for those who have elevated national prestige must become fundamental values. The more developed a country is, the more it recognizes and honors its national treasures — artists and innovators who serve the nation. Even without granting Bang Si-hyuk special privileges, society must show enough tolerance to allow him to continue paving a sustainable path for Hallyu. It is time we demonstrate wisdom — to honor what deserves honor, and to avoid the folly of ‘кιℓℓing the cow to straighten its horn.’”

Not only did Kim Soon-hwan’s editorial represent this sentiment, but another journalist, Kim Hyung-gyu, also expressed a similar view in his article titled “We need an ‘industrial evaluation,’ not a ‘witch hunt’ for Bang Si-hyuk.”

He wrote: “It is up to the judiciary whether Bang Si-hyuk’s action is illegal or whether it is a management judgment within the gray area of the system. However, if the public and the media conduct a ‘public opinion trial before judicial judgment,’ the damage will be borne not only by individuals but by the entire industry.”

He concluded: “Of course, if Bang Si-hyuk is guilty, the law will judge. But what is needed before that is not ‘retribution’ but ‘evaluation.’ And the evaluation criteria should be ‘fact,’ not emotion — and the ‘evolution rate of the industry,’ not morality.

In short, the gaze toward Bang Si-hyuk should be through the ‘lens of history,’ not the ‘standard of morality.’ K-pop is still walking on the path he paved, and the world is still paying attention to it.”

Additionally, several other кσяєαn media outlets have published similar opinion pieces, urging the government to halt further summons of CEO Bang in light of his contributions to the Hallyu industry and the global achievements of BTS.

K-netizens have also voiced their agreement through online discussions, with comments such as: “It’s good to see someone in the кσяєαn press speak up for Bang Si-hyuk. The witch hunt by кσяєαn ρσℓι¢є and whoever else is behind it needs to end,” and “Finally, someone has publicly said this about Bang. The authorities need to handle this matter with greater caution.”