Following years of campaigning that gained momentum from the #MeToo movement, South Korean prosecutors publicly apologized to Choi Mal-ja for her 1964 conviction. Choi defended herself against a sexual assault by biting off part of her attacker’s tongue, resulting in a retrial set to potentially overturn her earlier guilty verdict.
South Korean Woman Receives Apology After Decades of Misplaced Conviction for Self-Defense
South Korean Woman Receives Apology After Decades of Misplaced Conviction for Self-Defense
Choi Mal-ja, now 78, fights to overturn her 1964 conviction for biting her attacker during an attempted rape, highlighting a significant shift in legal recognition of women's self-defense in South Korea.
Prosecutors in South Korea have extended a formal apology to Choi Mal-ja, a woman convicted more than six decades ago for defending herself during a violent sexual assault. At the age of 18, Choi, now 78, bit off part of her attacker's tongue while he was allegedly attempting to rape her in 1964. Initially sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, Choi has spent decades fighting to clear her name and was inspired to act after the momentum of the #MeToo movement in the country.
In a retrial that began on Wednesday in Busan, prosecutors acknowledged their error in handling her case. Chief Prosecutor Jeong Myeong-won conveyed sincere regret over the suffering Choi has endured as a result of her conviction, which he stated prevented her from receiving the protection owed to a victim of a sex crime. The court is expected to deliver a final decision on September 10, with many anticipating a ruling in Choi’s favor.
Choi expressed her hopes for a future free from sexual violence, stating outside the court, "For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal." Her case has become emblematic of the systemic failures regarding self-defense claims in instances of sexual assault. The man who attacked her was given a mere six months for his crimes, whereas Choi faced a harsher penalty, as the prior court deemed her self-defense "exceeded the reasonable bounds."
With the support of advocacy groups following the surge of the #MeToo movement in the late 2010s, Choi initiated a petition for retrial in 2020. Despite initial setbacks, her fight for justice culminated in a Supreme Court ruling that permitted her retrial to proceed. Choi’s journey has galvanized public support, culminating in celebrations of her resilience outside the courtroom.
"I still can't believe it," Choi remarked following the latest hearing. "If the prosecution is admitting its mistake even now, then I believe justice is alive in this country." Choi has become a symbol of hope for many women fighting for recognition and justice in South Korea, which has seen increasing awareness and activism surrounding issues of sexual violence and self-defense rights.
