In brief
Prosecutors in South Korea have officially apologized to Choi Mal-ja, a woman who was convicted of self-defense during a sexual assault, as they push for her conviction to be overturned after nearly 60 years.
Choi Mal-ja, convicted for biting off part of her attacker's tongue in 1964, received a 10-month suspended sentence for an act of self-defense against sexual violence. Public support surged for Choi, now 78, as she campaigned for justice through the #MeToo movement. In a retrial in Busan, prosecutors asked the court to quash her guilty verdict, acknowledging that she should have been protected as a victim rather than treated as a criminal. On September 10, a ruling is expected, with observers anticipating a favorable outcome for Choi. "I have lived as a criminal for 61 years,” Choi expressed outside the court, hoping for a future free of sexual violence. Choi's determination and activism have raised awareness about the need for just recognition of self-defense in sexual violence cases, shining a light on systemic issues within the judicial process in South Korea. Raised fists in celebration and words of triumph echoed through the crowd of supporters as Choi embraced fellow advocates, marking a significant moment in her ongoing fight for justice.
