On October 29, RM of BTS appeared alongside HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk at the opening ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit (“Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Chief Executive Officers’ Summit”).
The opening ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit 2025, a side event of the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting — the largest economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region — was held at the Gwangju Arts Center on the morning of October 29.
After the ceremony, RM visited the HYBE promotional booth in front of the hall with Chairman Bang, and they viewed the exhibits together.
Meanwhile, Bang Si-hyuk has been under criminal investigation since December 2024 for alleged unfair fraudulent trading during HYBE’s IPO in 2020. He reportedly claimed there were no “plans for the IPO,” prompting many investors to sell their shares at low prices to private funds also linked to him, resulting in a personal profit of 200–400 billion KRW ($140–290 million) after the successful IPO.
Investigations are ongoing, and the prosecution has banned him from leaving the country. There are also allegations of tax evasion through shell companies, including HYBE America, in which HYBE invested millions of dollars.
However, the company became inactive after the acquisition and the appointment of Scooter Braun as CEO, with several artists, including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, leaving the agency.
RM’s appearance alongside Bang Si-hyuk sparked angry reactions among Korean netizens, with some accusing Bang of using BTS to polish his public image.
Korean Netizens’ Reactions :
- “Is RM really ‘suffering’? What is he suffering from while being in the same team?”
- “ARMY has been shouting that Bang Si-hyuk and BTS aren’t the same entity, but those cries were in vain.”
- “Personal ambition is inevitable… it’s disappointing to see someone become a shield for him.”
- “RM could have refused this speech, but he insisted on appearing face-to-face with Bang… why is the leader acting like this?”
- “Bang Si-hyuk and BTS have become two sides of the same coin now.”
- “RM doesn’t seem to care about the public or fans at all.”
- “He talks about eradicating chart manipulation, yet he or those around him are involved — clear hypocrisy.”
- “Birds of a feather flock together.”
- “Thanks to state projects protecting them, they now have a strong shield… All the talk about ‘falling and ruin’ turns out to be meaningless.”
- “Seeing RM voluntarily become his shield is disappointing… personal greed is inevitable.”
- “They look like father and son in suits — very flashy, but unsettling given the context.”
