Hwang accuses teenager of attempted murder

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Hwang Seon

Hwang Seon, 41, a former deputy speaker of the now-defunct Democratic Labor Party, filed a complaint against a high school boy for attempted murder for throwing fire bomb during a forum on North Korean issues.

The Iksan Police in North Jeolla Province said on Tuesday that she filed it through a law firm.

The boy, surnamed Oh, was arrested for throwing a pot containing burning gasoline during the Dec. 10 forum.

In the complaint, Hwang held not only Oh but also several others who were near him, accountable for the attack, claiming Oh had accomplices.

This was contrary to her earlier request for leniency for the teenager immediately after the incident.

"The law enforcement authorities are not fully investigating the case," Hwang said.

"They've regarded it as an individual's wrong deed from the beginning, not trying to disclose what's behind it. I am confident that someone pulled the strings behind the incident."

Hwang has been under investigation since last month over her alleged pro-North Korean activities after local conservative civic groups filed a complaint against her for making remarks sympathizing with the North Korean regime during other forums held in November together with her co-host Shin Eun-mi.

Shin, who is an American citizen, was expelled from Korea Saturday, and is banned from visiting the country for the next five years.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office sought an arrest warrant for Hwang on charges of violating the National Security Law.

The Seoul Central District Court is reviewing whether to issue the warrant.

Hwang said, "The forums and my activities, which have been held for years, are not the kind of things to warrant if it were a normal situation."

Hwang has travelled to North Korea twice. During her trip to the North in 2005, she gave birth to a baby.

Hwang has allegedly promoted former and incumbent North Korean leaders on an Internet broadcasting station and at public forums since 2011.