Over the weekend, Bang Si-hyuk, Chairman of HYBE, captured widespread attention after a poignant image of him shedding tears during LE SSERAFIM’s concert went viral. This emotional display occurred on April 20, 2025, as part of the group’s launch of their EASY CRAZY HOT tour in Incheon.
During the concert, member Huh Yunjin delivered a heartfelt speech that addressed the group’s past hurdles and ongoing struggles. Her sincere words resonated deeply, visibly affecting both Bang Si-hyuk and former Source Music CEO So Sung-jin, who were both seen teary-eyed in the audience.
As the image circulated online, it sparked a diverse range of reactions from fans. While many expressed compassion towards Bang Si-hyuk, others directed criticism at him. A number of commenters suggested that the challenges confronting LE SSERAFIM stemmed at least partly from decisions made during his tenure, implicating him in the group’s difficulties. One user remarked:
“Remember, THIS MAN was harassed the most in this ordeal. All he wanted was an experienced employee who can make his groups successful… he was the one who was betrayed. I don’t agree with him & his choices but he always got the worst hate & he is a human too.”
In the face of backlash, several supporters came to Bang Si-hyuk’s defense. They acknowledged that despite past controversies, he has made significant contributions and held genuine intentions as a leader. Many voiced hope that he would learn from his missteps while shedding light on the behind-the-scenes challenges he often navigates.
“Everyone’s not perfect; we all make decisions as a chairman. I know he had to endure tough choices that created rifts in his company. It will only make you stronger from here on out,”said one netizen.
“There are things I don’t agree with in his decisions. He was too trusting with some individuals he brought on board. I just need him to do better at protecting artists in HYBE,”a user remarked.
“Yes, he brought in MHJ to HYBE and gave her too many chances. But how could he know someone would turn out to be so harmful? It’s a costly mistake, and we hope he has learned from it,”another user stated.
“Say what you want; this man has given his best for all his artists. He’s tried to establish a trainee system free of wrongdoing and pays artists well, which is rare in any music industry,”commented yet another user.
Despite the compassion shown by some fans, a significant portion of netizens expressed their frustration and disdain. Many pointed out previous controversies linked to HYBE’s management and questioned the authenticity of Bang’s emotional display.
“Genuinely laughing at fans who sympathize with this greedy, selfish old man, who is also guilty in this mess and only cared about defending himself while the girls faced backlash,”one user expressed.
“Hiding for a year while the girls faced the backlash HE caused alone must have been tough,”remarked another user.
“Source Music CEO leaked pictures of minors’ medical reports only to come here and shed crocodile tears,”another critical post stated.
“Bang Si-hyuk let MHJ into HYBE, which wreaked havoc. It affected my favorite artists and other HYBE girl groups, so, yeah, feel some remorse,”added another discontented fan.
Controversies Surrounding Bang Si-hyuk, HYBE’s Chairman
Bang Si-hyuk, a key figure in South Korea’s music landscape and the founder of BIGHIT Music and HYBE Corporation, has been under intense public and industry scrutiny throughout 2024. A series of controversies severely questioned his executive decision-making and accountability.
The rift between HYBE and its subsidiary ADOR, headed by CEO Min Hee-jin, sparked a turbulent year for the company. In late April 2024, Min accused HYBE and Si-hyuk of duplicating the concept of NewJeans for another girl group, intensifying tensions.
By August 27, 2024, the conflict culminated with Bang officially terminating Min’s position, which only added fuel to the fire.
Bang Si-hyuk’s comments in the Netflix docuseries Popstar Academy: KATSEYE further compounded criticism against him. He suggested that “star power” is more critical than skill for an idol’s success. This opinion polarized fans, with many expressing discontent over its devaluation of training and dedication in the K-pop industry.
In October 2024, an 18,000-page internal report from HYBE made headlines when it was leaked during a National Assembly audit. This document allegedly included harmful remarks about prominent artists from famous K-pop groups such as BTS, SEVENTEEN, and BLACKPINK, alongside rumors about their personal lives.
While HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang publicly issued an apology and dismissed the involved employee, many fans demanded direct accountability from Bang Si-hyuk himself, whose silence on the issue resulted in widespread disapproval.
Bang’s subsequent absences from key company events, including the National Assembly’s audit, aggravated concerns. His return to corporate functions without addressing pressing internal issues cast doubts on his transparency and commitment to resolving ongoing problems.
A recent poll by JoyNews24, which queried 200 entertainment professionals, positioned Bang Si-hyuk as the second “worst figure”of 2024, emphasizing perceptions of poor leadership and communication failures within the industry.
Looking forward, LE SSERAFIM is poised to take the EASY CRAZY HOT tour across various Asian cities, including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore, before embarking on a North American tour scheduled to begin in September 2025.