Supreme Court Confirms Not Guilty Verdict for Hwang Seon, Former Hope Politics Research Forum Leader, in 'Pro-North Korea Concert Controversy' Case

Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Hwang Seon, former head of the Hope Politics Research Forum, who was prosecuted for violating the National Security Act after holding a talk concert that sparked controversy as a 'pro-North Korea concert,' has been acquitted by the Supreme Court.

On the 9th, the Supreme Court Division 1 (Presiding Justice Kim Seonsu) announced that it upheld the lower court's verdict of not guilty in the appeal trial of former head Hwang, who was charged with violating the National Security Act (praising and encouraging the enemy).

Previously, former head Hwang was prosecuted for holding three unification talk concerts with Korean-American Shin Eunmi in 2014, during which he allegedly sang theme songs praising North Korea and Kim Jong-il.

He was also charged with publishing a poetry and painting collection criticizing the government and the United States, as well as spreading North Korean statements through internet broadcasts.

The first trial court sentenced him to six months in prison with a two-year probation, stating, "The defendant is judged to have actively supported and joined the activities of an anti-state organization at events such as the 2010 General Advance Rally."

However, the court acquitted him of charges related to organizing the event and producing pro-North Korean propaganda materials. At that time, the court stated, "There appears to be no content in the defendant's remarks that directly and actively praises, supports, or propagandizes the North Korean regime, its rulers, Juche ideology, or Songun politics without criticism."

On the other hand, the second trial court acquitted all charges against Mr. A. It held that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that former head Hwang intended to praise the North Korean socialist system by holding the concert, and that the content did not appear to threaten the basic order of the country's liberal democratic system.

The Supreme Court also agreed with this judgment. The court dismissed the prosecutor's appeal, stating, "The lower court did not err in its legal interpretation regarding the establishment of the crime of violating the National Security Act, and there is no mistake affecting the judgment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.