South Korean Court Overturns 60-Year-Old Sexual Assault Self-Defense Conviction

A South Korean court has overturned the 60-year-old conviction of Choi Mal-ja, who was originally sentenced for biting off part of an alleged assailant's tongue in self-defense during a sexual assault in 1964. At the time, the man who attacked her was punished more leniently, and the attempted rape charge was dropped, reflecting the deeply patriarchal society of the era. Inspired by the global #MeToo movement, Choi pursued justice for decades, culminating in a retrial ordered by the Supreme Court and an acquittal by the Busan District Court. The court recognized her actions as justifiable self-defense and an effort to protect her bodily integrity and sexual self-determination. This landmark ruling has been celebrated by women's rights activists in South Korea, a country where recent protests have led to advances on issues like abortion access and stricter penalties for spycam crimes. Choi, now 79, expressed hope that her case would inspire other victims seeking justice.