A South Korean woman has been acquitted more than six decades after being convicted for biting off part of her attacker’s tongue while fighting off an alleged sexual assault.
Choi Mal-ja was only 18 when she was charged with grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 10 months in jail. Her attacker, who was 21, received a lighter sentence of six months, despite having pinned her to the ground in the southern town of Gimhae. Choi managed to break free by biting off about 1.5cm of his tongue.
Instead of being treated as a victim, she was branded a criminal. The court at the time argued that her actions had gone beyond the “reasonable bounds” of self-defence. She spent six months in detention during investigations before receiving a suspended sentence. Meanwhile, her assailant not only escaped charges of attempted rape but also continued to torment her, at one point breaking into her home with a knife while demanding compensation.
For decades, the case stood as one of South Korea’s most contentious rulings on sexual violence. The harsh judgment turned Choi’s life upside down, shifting her from a victim to an accused. Despite warnings from those around her that challenging the ruling was hopeless, she continued her fight for justice.
In 2018, inspired by the global movement against sexual violence, Choi sought support from advocacy groups and spent years collecting evidence to reopen her case. Although lower courts rejected her petitions, she remained determined to clear her name and to ensure other women would not endure the same injustice.
In December 2024, the Supreme Court finally granted a retrial. The case reopened in Busan, where prosecutors took the unusual step of apologising and asking the court to overturn her conviction.
The new ruling not only restores Choi’s dignity but also sets a precedent for recognising acts of self-defence in cases of sexual violence. Women’s rights advocates believe this decision will pave the way for more victims to come forward, knowing their voices and actions will be acknowledged as legitimate.
