Choi Mal-ja's conviction dates back to a 1964 incident, and after years of campaigning, her case is finally being reconsidered in court.
**Historic Apology from Prosecutors in South Korea: Conviction Overturned for Woman Who Bit Off Attacker's Tongue**
**Historic Apology from Prosecutors in South Korea: Conviction Overturned for Woman Who Bit Off Attacker's Tongue**
In a landmark case, South Korean prosecutors have formally apologized to a woman previously convicted for defending herself during a sexual assault.
In a significant turn of events, prosecutors in South Korea have issued a formal apology to Choi Mal-ja, an 78-year-old woman who was convicted for defending herself against a sexual assault over six decades ago. Choi was sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, for biting off a portion of her attacker's tongue during the assault when she was just 18 years old.
Inspired by the nation’s growing #MeToo movement, Choi has fought tirelessly for the reversal of her conviction, beginning a retrial in Busan this week. The chief prosecutor, Jeong Myeong-won, publicly acknowledged the injustice, stating, "We sincerely apologise," and called for the court to overturn Choi's guilty verdict.
Reflecting on her 61-year ordeal, Choi expressed her hope that future generations would live free from the threat of sexual violence. After the hearings, jubilant supporters celebrated her triumph, with Choi exclaiming, "We won!"
The 1964 incident occurred when a young man forced himself on Choi, attempting to rape her. In an act of self-defense, she bit off 1.5cm of his tongue, rendering him incapacitated. Ironically, her attacker received a lesser sentence of six months in prison for trespassing and intimidation, while she was punished more harshly for inflicting bodily harm.
Choi's case became emblematic of the legal challenges faced by victims of sexual violence, exemplifying a historical pattern of courts failing to recognize self-defense. Encouraged by the momentum of the #MeToo movement in the late 2010s, Choi sought assistance from advocacy groups and filed for a retrial in 2020. Initially dismissed by lower courts, her petition was finally accepted by the Supreme Court over three years later, paving the way for this week's proceedings.
Following the trial, Choi expressed disbelief at the prosecutors' admission of wrongdoing, stating, "If the prosecution is admitting its mistake even now, then I believe justice is alive in this country." As Choi's case continues to unfold, it highlights the pressing issues surrounding victim rights and self-defense in South Korea.
