A South Korean court has acquitted a woman previously convicted for defending herself against an act of sexual violence six decades ago.
Busan’s District Court overturned the previous ruling on Wednesday, saying Choi Mal-ja’s actions “constitute justifiable self-defence” under South Korean law.
Choi’s actions at the time are now “deemed an attempt to escape an unjust infringement on her bodily integrity and sexual self-determination”, the court said in a statement.
The ruling overturns Choi’s 1965 conviction, when the court found her actions had “exceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defence”.
Choi, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was attacked by a 21-year-old man in the southern town of Gimhae in 1964.
The man pinned her to the ground and repeatedly forced his tongue into her mouth, at one point blocking her nose to stop her from breathing, according to court records.
Choi managed to break free by biting off about 1.5cm (0.6 inches) of his tongue.
In one of South Korea’s most contentious rulings on sexual violence, the aggressor received only six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation – but not attempted rape.
But Choi, now 79, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Wearing a bright pink blazer, Choi beamed as supporters handed her multiple bouquets after the new ruling.
The Korea Women’s Hotline (KWH), one of the groups that supported Choi during the trial, said the verdict will pave the way for other victims of sexual violence seeking justice.
Credit: aljazeera.com
