Washington Reportedly Wants BTS Founder Free To Attend July 4 Celebration Despite Travel Ban Imposed by Seoul

The founder of the world’s most popular singing group, the K-pop phenomenon BTS, is facing the music in Seoul while American officialdom reportedly wants him free to join in celebrating the 250th anniversary of USA independence on July 4.The chairman of HYBE, the group that runs BTS, Bang Si-hyuk, is under investigation in a stock fixing scheme for which he’s banned from leaving Korea. Prosecutors must decide whether to charge him and ask the court to jail him while awaiting trial. Also banned from leaving Korea are two other executives of HYBE, which controls BTS and other Korean groups. As has often happened in similar cases, prosecutors would be expected to ask the court to jail Mr. Bang while he awaits trial.In what appears to be a bizarre tug of war between Washington and Seoul, a major Korean newspaper, Hankook Ilbo, reports that the American embassy in Seoul is asking Korea to lift the travel ban so Mr. Bang — nicknamed “Hitman Bang” — and his people can make the trip Stateside. Hankook Ilbo, In a report picked up by all other major Korean papers and TV stations, reports that the embassy asked Korea’s national police agency to suspend the travel ban first in a telephone call and then by a formal letter.Reuters reports the U.S. embassy in Seoul “said it did not have anything to add on that matter.” The reasons for the American request, according to Hankook Ilbo, is for Mr. Bang and his retinue to be able not only to attend celebrations on July 4 but also to support BTS during the American portion of their global tour, which promises to be an epic adventure drawing sellout crowds. The Americans are not reported to have suggested that the seven-member BTS bunch also celebrate July 4th, just Mr. Bang and his colleagues.As reported by Hankook Ilbo, the American request has plunged the embassy into hot water. “Critics say the move may constitute a breach of diplomatic norms,” said Hankook Ilbo, whose article was carried in English by its sister newspaper, the Korea Times. “The U.S. allegedly bypassed formal diplomatic channels and directly singled out individuals under travel bans in a request to a foreign investigative agency.”The newspaper said police were “particularly sensitive to the issue because a key alleged accomplice in the case left for the United States in June 2025 and has not returned to Korea.” There was “the possibility that Bang and others could come into contact with the alleged accomplice if they travel to the U.S.”Before lifting the travel ban, the justice ministry would go through an elaborate bureaucratic process in which a review committee would debate the merits of a case that’s been dragging on for several years.The case against Mr. Bang revolves around an initial public offering seven years ago for his company, then known as Big Hit Music. He’s reported to have denied plans for an IPO before getting investors to sell their shares to a company tied to a private equity fund in which he had a stake.“The private equity fund sold its shares after the IPO,” said Hankook Ilbo, “and Bang allegedly pocketed approximately 30 percent of the earnings, which amounted to around 190 billion won ($130 million), under a pre-existing deal.”Mr. Bang began the formation of BTS in 2010. BTS, who debuted in 2013, were initially envisioned as a hip-hop musical outfit. The seeming conflict between American and Korean authorities, as reported, may have the potential for an embarrassing diplomatic standoff. But BTS fans will be relieved to know it won’t have any impact on BTS’ schedule, beginning with their American invasion in Tampa on April 25 and 26 and in El Paso on May 2 and 3.After a diversion to Mexico City on May 7, 9 and 10, the group will be in Las Vegas on May 23, 24 and 27. Come the Fourth of July, they’ll be gone, between performances in Brussels and London, but they’re scheduled to be back again in August and September for performances in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Washington Reportedly Wants BTS Founder Free To Attend July 4 Celebration Despite Travel Ban Imposed by Seoul

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