President Donald J. Trump overcame a number of prosecutions that nearly prevented him from taking office. In 2024, a New York case was prosecuted alleging hush-money payments made before the 2016 election. In 2023, a case against then-former President Trump claiming mishandling of sensitive information was dismissed, while similar allegations against President Joe Biden were reportedly ignored.
There have been multiple cases brought with the apparent purpose of preventing Trump from regaining the White House. Now, we are witnessing a similar situation unfold in Brazil, where former President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years in jail by his successors for election interference. Sound familiar?
The word for this is **lawfare**—the political use of public resources by corrupt governments. It’s a tactic often associated with fascists, yet those who claim to be anti-fascist sometimes embrace its tools.
A similar pattern is playing out in South Korea, where the current president is targeting one of the architects behind the country’s cultural surge. Bang Si-hyuk, founder of South Korean entertainment company HYBE, has built a billion-dollar business with significant global influence. HYBE is best known for creating the successful K-Pop band BTS.
Five years ago, Bang’s company launched an initial public offering (IPO) to maintain long-term growth. The allegation is that this move was done for personal enrichment. However, the charges against Bang are seen by many as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated persecution by South Korean government officials and President Lee.
As we have witnessed in the U.S., politically motivated lawfare is increasingly being used in South Korea to target political opponents. While this is relatively new in the United States, it has long been a tactic used against those who threaten the political or cultural establishment in South Korea.
President Lee has issued sweeping presidential pardons to 2,188 individuals — including many who committed crimes far worse than the allegations faced by Bang Si-hyuk. Yet, Bang, who created one of Korea’s most successful global companies, is subjected to harsher scrutiny, largely because he is one of the wealthiest individuals in the nation.
This legal process needs to play out, but HYBE has promised full transparency. The Korea Times quoted HYBE as saying in a statement, “It may take some time, but we will fully explain that the listing at the time was carried out in compliance with laws and regulations.”
Bang has consistently pursued the long-term growth of his company. He understands that entertainment IPOs are generally less favored compared to private investment due to the volatile, talent-dependent nature of the business. He has paid taxes on his earnings and reinvested $100 million into the company after the IPO—actions hardly consistent with fraud.
Certainly, these are not the actions of someone who deserves to be arrested, publicly humiliated, and subjected to a 14-hour police interrogation.
One major reason developing nations struggle to develop is that corrupt government leaders often target successful businesses to enrich themselves. The lawfare leveled against Bang carries more the air of authoritarianism than a legitimate legal investigation. While it may seem less overt than a shakedown by organized crime, it is no less damaging.
This kind of behavior would be unacceptable in a banana republic. It is unconscionable in the world’s 15th largest economy.
This year, South Korea has faced numerous challenges — including a martial law crisis, an impeachment, a rocky presidential transition, and accusations of human rights abuses. Corruption within the South Korean government is not new; many insiders even claim it acts like an extension of the powerful conglomerate Samsung.
On the global stage, any ongoing lapse in the rule of law signals instability. Such instability can scare away financial partnerships and foreign investment, which are vital for the survival of the tiny Korean peninsula.
South Korea’s entertainment industry remains one of its most important cultural exports and a major source of global influence. It is truly astonishing that in just a few decades, Korea has transformed itself from an agrarian society into a 21st-century economic juggernaut.
Today, audiences worldwide enjoy Korean entertainment like *Parasite*, *Squid Game*, *K-Pop*, and *Demon Hunters* on Korean-made electronics without giving much thought to the incredible cultural connection between Korea and the United States. This connection not only advances the economic interests of both countries but also serves as a strategic check against Chinese aggression.
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*Note: The final paragraph referencing “Mayor Madman Mamdani” and “Card Breaking Encourages Community, Not Gambling” appears unrelated to the main content and has been omitted for clarity and relevance.*
https://spectator.org/kpop-demon-hunters-and-south-koreas-out-of-control-lawfare/
