In a momentous decision, a South Korean woman, Choi Mal-ja, has been acquitted after a court revisited her decades-old conviction that stemmed from an incident where she bit off the tongue of a man during an alleged sexual attack. Choi was merely 18 years old when she was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 10 months in jail. Her attacker, who was 21 at the time, received a lighter sentence of six months.
After numerous years of campaigning to clear her name, a retrial began in Busan in July 2025. During the first hearing, prosecutors surprisingly apologized to her and requested that the court annul her conviction. Expressing her motivation, Ms. Choi stated, I could not let this case go unanswered... I [wanted] to stand up for other victims who share the same fate as mine.
The incident profoundly altered Choi's life, transforming her from a victim into an accused individual. Now 79, she reflected on the past, describing her fight for justice—even when those around her warned it was a futile endeavor. Expressing gratitude towards her supporters, she condemned those who, in her view, misused their authority to oppress the vulnerable and manipulate the law.
The court found that her actions in biting her assailant were an extreme response to the trauma she experienced. Choi's legal battles and determination to advocate for herself and others dealing with sexual violence have positioned her case as an enduring example of the legal system's failure to recognize self-defense in instances of sexual aggression.
The pivotal retrial initiated in 2024 followed the global #MeToo movement, which inspired Choi to collaborate with advocacy groups and gather evidence to challenge her conviction. The path to exoneration was fraught with challenges, as previous attempts to retrial were denied due to insufficient evidence in support of self-defense.
But victory came as the South Korean Supreme Court ruled in Choi’s favor, granting her the opportunity to reopen her case, leading to the joyous announcement of her acquittal. In a show of solidarity, supporters gathered outside the court, holding banners that celebrated Choi’s relentless fight for justice.
Furthermore, her case has drawn attention to the broader issue of gender bias within judicial systems, with experts asserting that her story could pave the way for justice for other victims of sexual violence. Choi plans to initiate a civil lawsuit against the state seeking compensation, while advocates remain hopeful that this decision signifies a shift in how women's defensive actions are perceived by the law.
