Trending 
A South Korean court has reopened a 61-year-old case, allowing a woman to challenge her conviction for defending herself against sexual violence in 1964.
Choi Mal-ja, now 79, was inspired by the global #MeToo movement to seek justice, leading to a landmark retrial that began on Wednesday.
At just 19 years old, Choi was attacked by a 21-year-old man who pinned her down and assaulted her. She managed to escape by biting off a portion of his tongue.
In a controversial ruling at the time, her aggressor received a mere six-month suspended sentence for trespassing and intimidation, with no charges for attempted rape.
Choi, however, was convicted of grievous bodily harm and given a 10-month suspended prison sentence, with the court ruling her actions “exceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defence.”
Decades later, fuelled by the momentum of the #MeToo movement and the significant women’s rights protests in South Korea, Choi began her fight for a retrial in 2020.
After initial rejections by lower courts and years of persistent campaigning, South Korea’s Supreme Court finally ordered a retrial in 2024.
“For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal,” Choi told reporters outside the Busan District Court. She expressed her hope that her case would pave the way for future generations to “live in a world free from sexual violence where they can enjoy human rights and a happy life.”
Her advocacy is also intended to empower other victims and rectify historical injustices, according to Choi Sun-hye of the Korea Women’s Hotline.
During Monday’s retrial hearing, the prosecution formally requested that the court clear Choi of her original conviction.
The verdict in this historic case is anticipated in September.
