After over 60 years, South Korean prosecutors issued an apology to Choi Mal-ja, who was convicted for defending herself against a sexual predator. Following a retrial inspired by the #MeToo movement, Choi's conviction is set to be reviewed as her fight for justice gains national attention.
Prosecutors Apologize to South Korean Woman Convicted for Self-Defense in 1964 Sexual Assault Case
Prosecutors Apologize to South Korean Woman Convicted for Self-Defense in 1964 Sexual Assault Case
Choi Mal-ja, convicted for biting her attacker’s tongue during a defense effort, receives a state apology after a long campaign for justice.
Prosecutors in South Korea have taken the significant step of apologizing to Choi Mal-ja, a woman convicted for defending herself during a violent sexual assault over 60 years ago. Choi, who was only 18 at the time of the attack in 1964, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, after biting off a portion of her assailant's tongue. The man had allegedly attempted to rape her and, despite his violent actions, received a lesser sentence of six months for trespassing.
Now 78 years old, Choi has fought tirelessly to have her conviction annulled, garnering support from the #MeToo movement in South Korea. Her retrial commenced in Busan, where the chief prosecutor, Jeong Myeong-won, formally apologized, saying, “For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal,” Choi expressed, hoping that new generations will not face the same violence she did.
A final ruling is expected on September 10, and observers are optimistic that the court will overturn her conviction. Outside the courtroom, victorious, Choi raised her fist in celebration alongside supporter groups advocating for victims' rights. Court documents reveal that during the 1964 attack, Choi had to resort to biting off 1.5 centimeters of the attacker’s tongue to escape his grasp while he attempted to assault her.
Choi's conviction had previously exemplified a judicial failure in recognizing self-defense in cases of sexual violence, leading to her becoming an emblematic figure for justice in women's rights movements in South Korea. Inspired by a revival of the #MeToo movement, she sought to correct the narrative surrounding her case, ultimately leading to challenges in the courts that finally opened the door for her retrial after a long-fought battle.
Reflecting on the prosecutor's recent acknowledgment of their error, Choi stated, "I still can't believe it... then I believe justice is alive in this country." Her case has highlighted systemic issues within the legal framework regarding sexual violence and women's rights, stirring important conversations and advocacy in South Korean society today.
