South Korean woman who bit off attacker’s tongue acquitted after 61 years | South Korea
A court in South Korea acquitted a woman who was convicted of biting a part of a man’s tongue for sexual assault, after appealing the decision of the country’s #Metoo movement twenty years ago.
Choi Mal-Ja was 19 years old, attacked by a 21-year-old man in the southern town of Gimhae in 1964. According to the court records, he fixed him to the ground and forced his tongue over and over again, and at some point he prevented his nose to prevent his nose from breathing.
Choi managed to be released by biting the 1.5 cm tongue.
In one of South Korea’s most controversial decisions on sexual violence, the attacker was sentenced to only six months of imprisonment, suspended for two years for unauthorized entry and intimidation- but no attempted rape.
Now 79 -year -old Choi was convicted of causing great physical damage and sentenced him to 10 months’ imprisonment for two years. On Wednesday, this decision was overthrown by the Busan Regional Court, which ruled the actions of “rightful self -defense” according to South Korean laws.
The court said that Choi’s actions at that time “attempted to escape an unjust violation of physical integrity and sexual assignment”.
The decision broke Choi’s 1965 conviction when the Court’s actions “exceeded the reasonable limits of legally permitted self -defense”.
Choi smiled while the fans surrendered to flower bouquets after the decision. Women’s Rights congratulated activists and supporters and “Choi Mal-JA did this!”
At a press conference after the decision, Choi said, “Sixty -one year ago, in a situation I could not understand anything, the sacrifice became a perpetrator and my destiny was sealed as a criminal. I wanted to be a source of hope for the victims who shared the same fate with me.”
Choi’s appeal gained momentum after the #MeToo movement, which set out in 2017, inspired justice to seek justice. Women’s Rights Protests in South Korea led to victories on issues that extend from abortion access to more penalties for SpyCam crimes.
Choi applied to the trial in 2020, but the sub -courts initially rejected his petition.
After years of campaign and appeal, South Korea’s highest court finally ordered a re -trial in 2024. At his first hearing, the prosecutors apologized to Choi and asked the court to break his conviction.
His lawyers said they planned to receive compensation from the state for the damages he suffered twenty years ago.
