This surveillance camera footage shows the scene of the attack on People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin, in Seoul, Jan. 25. (Courtesy of Rep. Bae Hyun-jin’s office)

The 14-year-old middle school student suspected of attacking ruling party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin has claimed he was the person who threw coffee at actor Yoo Ah-in last year, according to local media reports, Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News, the teenage suspect called the media outlet in December and said he was the one filmed throwing coffee and a bottle at Yoo in May 2023, as the 37-year-old actor exited a police station after being questioned over drug use allegations. The assailant, who was wearing a grey hoodie and jeans, had not been identified at the time.

Yoo is currently on trial over allegations that he used propofol and other drugs on 181 occasions from 2020 to 2022, as well as allegations that he smoked marijuana in the US. The actor has claimed that the drugs were administered to him as part of a medical procedure, but admitted to using marijuana.

The teenage suspect told Yonhap that he targeted Yoo because he "never liked him, and was infuriated by reports that he was suspected of using drugs." The teen sent the media outlet a photo of the incident.

It was also revealed that the boy was allegedly the same person who threw a wallet at a suspect accused of vandalizing the walls of Gyeongbokgung. The boy reportedly threw the wallet when he attended the hearing for the suspect's arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court in December. At the time, he told local media that he was in the second year of middle school and that he threw the wallet because he was mad at the suspected vandal.

The teenage suspect is currently being investigated on suspicion of inflicting special bodily injury on another. Bae was assaulted with a rock at around 5:10 p.m. on Jan. 25 in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. The former television news anchor and current member of the People Power Party was struck on the back of the head more than 15 times and was hospitalized for two days after the attack.

The suspect said he attacked the 40-year-old politician because "she was doing a (bad) job in politics." The boy claimed that the attack was committed on an impulse and that he had been waiting to get an autograph from a celebrity who was known to frequently visit a hair salon in the area.

An investigation found that the boy has a record of being treated for depression.

South Korean law stipulates that those aged 14 or above can receive criminal punishment, meaning the boy would not be immune from punishment.