Latest news with #JeongMyeongwon
The Guardian
7 days ago
- The Guardian
Apology for South Korean woman convicted of biting off tongue of alleged attacker 61 years ago
A woman who bit off part of a man's tongue during an alleged sexual assault more than 60 years ago has received a formal apology from South Korean prosecutors, as they sought her acquittal during a retrial after decades of living as a convicted criminal. Choi Mal-ja, now 80, was 18 when she bit the tongue of a 21-year-old man who she said was attempting to rape her in Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. She was convicted of 'aggravated bodily injury' for biting off 1.5cm of his tongue in self-defence and sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. Her alleged attacker received a lighter sentence for trespassing and intimidation after prosecutors dropped the attempted rape charges against him. Senior prosecutor Jeong Myeong-won personally attended the first and only day of Choi's retrial on Wednesday and addressed her by name rather than as 'defendant'. 'The prosecution failed in its role and went in the opposite direction,' he said. 'We caused immeasurable pain and suffering to Ms Choi Mal-ja, who should have been protected as a sexual violence victim. We deeply apologise.' In her final court statement, Choi said: 'I have lived 61 years as a criminal. My hope and dream now is that Korea will make laws so our descendants can live with their human rights protected in a world without sexual violence.' During proceedings, the prosecution asked the court to clear her of the past conviction. After the hearing, Choi emerged from Busan district court with her fist raised, shouting three times: 'We won!' Her case has became a symbol for many who accuse South Korea's justice system of historically failing sexual assault survivors. Choi first filed for retrial in 2020 after being inspired by a university class on gender studies as a mature student and was emboldened by the global #MeToo movement. She argued she had been illegally detained for six months without a proper warrant. Lower courts rejected her request for a retrial, saying the case reflected circumstances of the time. The supreme court overturned those rejections in December, allowing the retrial to proceed. The case received support throughout from the Korean Women's Hot-Line (KWHL), a women's rights group that supports victims of gender-based violence. While Choi has received an apology, the final verdict on the retrial itself in now expected until 10 September.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
Apology for S Korean woman convicted of biting man's tongue as he attacked her
Prosecutors in South Korea have apologised to a woman who was convicted for defending herself during a sexually violent attack more than 60 years ago. Choi Mal-ja was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for biting off part of her attacker's tongue as he allegedly tried to rape her in 1964, when she was 18 years old. Inspired by the country's #MeToo movement, Ms Choi, now 78, has campaigned for years to have her conviction overturned. Her retrial began in the city of Busan on Wednesday, where prosecutors issued an apology and asked for the court to quash her guilty verdict. "For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal," Ms Choi told reporters outside the court ahead of the hearing. She said she hoped future generations could live a happy life free from sexual violence. At the start of the trial, Busan's Chief Prosecutor Jeong Myeong-won said "we sincerely apologise". "We have caused Choi Mal-ja, a victim of a sex crime who should have been protected as one, indescribable pain and agony." A final ruling is scheduled for 10 September, with legal observers expecting the court to overturn Ms Choi's conviction. Outside the courtroom after the hearing, Ms Choi raised her fist and said: "We won!" She celebrated by embracing campaigners from civic organisations who were there to support her. #MeToo takes hold in South Korea Why women in Korea are reclaiming their short hair In 1964, an 18-year-old Choi Mal-ja was attacked by a 21-year-old man, who forced his tongue into her mouth as he pinned her to the ground in the southern town of Gimhae, according to court records. Ms Choi escaped the attack by biting off 1.5cm (0.59in) of the aggressor's tongue. The man was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation. He was never convicted of attempted rape. Ms Choi was given a harsher sentence than her attacker for causing him grievous bodily harm. The court at the time said her actions had exceeded the "reasonable bounds" of self-defence. Ms Choi's case has since been cited in legal textbooks in South Korea as a classic example of a court failing to recognise self-defence during sexual violence. 'Justice is alive in this country' After taking inspiration from South Korea's #MeToo movement in the late 2010s, Ms Choi contacted advocacy groups to begin work on petitioning for a retrial. She filed a petition in 2020, 56 years after the attack, but it was initially rejected by the lower courts. Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled that Ms Choi's retrial could go ahead. Her fight for justice became well known in South Korea, with Ms Choi and fellow activists holding protests outside the Supreme Court building in Seoul. "I still can't believe it," Ms Choi said after Wednesday's hearing, the Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported. "But if the prosecution is admitting its mistake even now, then I believe justice is alive in this country."
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
Apology for S Korean woman convicted of biting man's tongue as he attacked her
Prosecutors in South Korea have apologised to a woman who was convicted for defending herself during a sexually violent attack more than 60 years Mal-ja was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for biting off part of her attacker's tongue as he allegedly tried to rape her in 1964, when she was 18 years by the country's #MeToo movement, Ms Choi, now 78, has campaigned for years to have her conviction retrial began in the city of Busan on Wednesday, where prosecutors issued an apology and asked for the court to quash her guilty verdict. "For 61 years, the state made me live as a criminal," Ms Choi told reporters outside the court ahead of the said she hoped future generations could live a happy life free from sexual the start of the trial, Busan's Chief Prosecutor Jeong Myeong-won said "we sincerely apologise"."We have caused Choi Mal-ja, a victim of a sex crime who should have been protected as one, indescribable pain and agony."A final ruling is scheduled for 10 September, with legal observers expecting the court to overturn Ms Choi's the courtroom after the hearing, Ms Choi raised her fist and said: "We won!"She celebrated by embracing campaigners from civic organisations who were there to support her. In 1964, an 18-year-old Choi Mal-ja was attacked by a 21-year-old man, who forced his tongue into her mouth as he pinned her to the ground in the southern town of Gimhae, according to court Choi escaped the attack by biting off 1.5cm (0.59in) of the aggressor's man was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation. He was never convicted of attempted Choi was given a harsher sentence than her attacker for causing him grievous bodily harm. The court at the time said her actions had exceeded the "reasonable bounds" of Choi's case has since been cited in legal textbooks in South Korea as a classic example of a court failing to recognise self-defence during sexual violence. 'Justice is alive in this country' After taking inspiration from South Korea's #MeToo movement in the late 2010s, Ms Choi contacted advocacy groups to begin work on petitioning for a filed a petition in 2020, 56 years after the attack, but it was initially rejected by the lower courts. Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled that Ms Choi's retrial could go fight for justice became well known in South Korea, with Ms Choi and fellow activists holding protests outside the Supreme Court building in Seoul."I still can't believe it," Ms Choi said after Wednesday's hearing, the Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported."But if the prosecution is admitting its mistake even now, then I believe justice is alive in this country."
