Choi Mal-ja, now 80, was 18 when she bit off part of a man's tongue during an alleged sexual assault in Busan in 1965. She was convicted of aggravated bodily injury and sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while her alleged attacker received a lighter sentence for trespassing and intimidation after attempted rape charges were dropped.
On Wednesday, senior prosecutor Jeong Myeong-won personally attended the first day of Choi's retrial and apologised on behalf of the prosecution. 'We caused immeasurable pain and suffering to Ms Choi Mal-ja, who should have been protected as a sexual violence victim,' he said. The prosecution asked the court to clear her of the past conviction.
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.' After the hearing, she emerged from court with her fist raised, shouting: 'We won!'
Choi first filed for retrial in 2020, inspired by a university gender studies class and emboldened by the #MeToo movement. Lower courts initially rejected her request, but the Supreme Court overturned those rejections in December. The final verdict is expected on 10 September.
