On Wednesday, a South Korean court acquitted a woman previously convicted six decades ago for defending herself against sexual violence. This decision came after she challenged her original conviction, inspired by the #MeToo movement in the country.
Choi Mal-ja was just 19 years old in 1964 when she was assaulted by a 21-year-old man in Gimhae, a town in the south.
According to court records, he pinned her down, repeatedly forced his tongue into her mouth, and even blocked her nose to prevent her from breathing.
Choi escaped by biting off approximately 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) of his tongue.
In one of the most controversial sexual violence cases in South Korea, the attacker received a mere six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation but not for attempted rape.
However, Choi, now 79, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
This decision was overturned on Wednesday by the Busan District Court, which determined her actions were “justifiable self-defense” under South Korean law.
The court noted that Choi’s actions were an attempt to “escape an unjust infringement on her bodily integrity and sexual self-determination” in a statement shared with AFP.
This ruling reverses her 1965 conviction, when her actions were deemed to have “exceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defense.”
– ‘Source of Hope’ –
Choi, wearing a bright pink blazer, smiled as supporters gave her bouquets after the ruling.
Women’s rights activists and supporters celebrated, many visibly emotional, holding a placard that said, “Choi Mal-ja did it!”
“Sixty-one years ago, in a situation I couldn’t understand, the victim was labeled the perpetrator, sealing my fate as a criminal,” Choi stated at a press conference following the ruling.
“For victims who shared my fate, I wanted to be a source of hope,” she added.
Choi’s pursuit of justice gained momentum following the global rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017.
In South Korea, large women’s rights protests have led to significant advances, from abortion rights to stricter penalties for spycam crimes.
Choi applied for a retrial in 2020, but lower courts initially denied her request.
After persistent campaigning and appeal, South Korea’s top court ordered a retrial set for 2024.
Her lawyers now plan to seek compensation from the state for the damages she endured due to her conviction six decades ago.
