The US Embassy has reportedly requested cooperation from the National Police Agency to allow an international visit by Chairman Bang Si Hyuk and other senior executives at HYBE, who are currently banned from leaving the country due to a police investigation.
According to a comprehensive report by The Korea Times on April 19, the US Embassy in Korea recently delivered a letter requesting cooperation to the acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency in Korea. The letter reportedly included a request to allow HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si Hyuk, CEO Lee Jae Sang, and Vice President Kim Hyun Jung to visit the United States.
The reports have described the request as “unusual” for bypassing official channels, and critical voices from the police force have emerged, claiming that it constitutes a “violation of diplomatic norms,” as it directly singled out individuals under a travel ban and was made by a foreign authority outside official diplomatic channels.
The stated reasons for the visit included attending the US 250th Independence Day celebration scheduled for July 4, as well as supporting BTS during their US tour. Earlier, US President Trump had announced plans to hold an unprecedented large scale event in Washington, D.C., including a UFC match, to mark the Independence Day celebration.
As Chairman Bang and CEO Lee are currently suspects accused of violating the Capital Markets Act and are under a travel ban, a request for cooperation in their US visit is effectively regarded as equivalent to asking the police to lift the travel ban. According to The Korea Times, lifting such a restriction typically requires a formal process in which the Ministry of Justice convenes a review committee following a request from investigative authorities.
Chairman Bang is currently accused of “fraudulent unfair trading,” having provided false information to investors before HYBE’s 2019 public listing, claiming there were no plans for an IPO, and of gaining approximately 190 billion KRW in illicit profits. Police have summoned him for questioning five times and are currently reviewing the legal aspects of the case. A final decision, such as applying for an arrest warrant or referring the case without detention, is expected soon.
Normally, diplomatic measures and cooperation requests are coordinated through official channels such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was reported that the request was made via phone, and the letter was delivered in person unilaterally.
Police are said to be particularly sensitive about the issue, as one of the key accomplices in the case left for the United States in June of last year and has not returned. There are concerns that Chairman Bang and others could come into contact with this accomplice if allowed to travel. For this reason, there is reportedly strong sentiment within the police and from the public that it would be difficult to respond positively to the request.
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