Bang Si Hyuk’s travel ban is in the spotlight. Korean media reported that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul sent a letter to the Korean National Police Agency. According to a local report released on Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Korea has asked that HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk be permitted to travel to the United States.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the reported request named three people: Bang Si Hyuk, HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang, and Vice President Kim Hyun-jung. The letter was tied to U.S. events, including the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4. The request to travel was made in relation to overseas business needs, including the BTS world tour concert and coordination with the U.S. Police officials. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment at this time.
Why is Bang Si-hyuk under a travel ban?
Bang remains under a travel ban tied to an ongoing investigation. Police have been looking into allegations that he misled investors in 2019 about HYBE’s IPO plans. He encouraged them to sell shares to an entity linked to a private equity fund. And that was allegedly connected to him and made roughly $136 million in personal profit.
What happened in the past 24 hours
Multiple Korean outlets reported that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul had sent a letter to police seeking cooperation regarding Bang Si Hyuk’s possible U.S. trip.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner said no direct formal request to lift Bang Si Hyuk’s travel ban had been received and that investigators’ opinions would come first, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun.
HYBE denied involvement, telling The Korea Herald that the company did not ask for help from the U.S. Embassy.
Still, there is no confirmed change to the restriction. Police and the foreign ministry have not announced that Bang’s ban has been lifted, and HYBE has denied making any move through diplomatic channels.
