Archive · 2 Aug 2025
South Korean Woman Cleared of Charges in Self-Defense Case
Imagine a woman named Choi, who was attacked long ago.
She fought back, and the attacker got hurt.
But, shockingly, she was punished while the attacker got away lightly.
For many years, she lived with this unfair record.
Years later, with new movements fighting for women's rights, she sought justice.
Finally, the people in charge realized the mistake.
They said sorry, and now they're trying to fix things so her name is cleared.
This is about making things right for her and for others who have suffered similar injustice.
Choi Mal-ja, a South Korean woman, fought to clear her name after being convicted for biting off her attacker's tongue.
The incident occurred in 1964 when Choi was attacked at age 19; she bit her attacker to defend herself.
She was initially convicted of causing grievous bodily harm, while her attacker received a suspended sentence.
After decades and the #MeToo movement, Choi filed for a retrial and gained public support.
Prosecutors apologized, and her conviction is expected to be overturned, reflecting on historical injustice.
- Who
- Choi Mal-ja, the victim; her attacker, and the prosecutors and courts involved.
- What
- Choi Mal-ja's conviction for defending herself against a sexual assault is being overturned.
- When
- The assault happened in 1964, the retrial hearing was recently held, and the verdict is expected in September.
- Where
- Busan, South Korea
- Why
- To correct a historic injustice, offer Choi justice, and support for victims of sexual assault.
Historical Legal Injustices
Modern Legal Justice
Legal Injustice
Historical Legal Injustices
Original conviction unfairly punished Choi, reflecting systemic biases against victims of sexual assault.
Modern Legal Justice
The legal system at the time may have followed existing laws, but they did not adequately protect the victim.
- Victim's Name
- Choi Mal-ja
- Incident Year
- 1964
- Original Conviction
- Causing grievous bodily harm
- Attacker's Sentence
- Six months, suspended for two years
- Retrial Petition
- Filed in 2020
- Prosecutor's Apology
- Yes, during retrial
- Support Group
- Korea Women’s Hotline