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yesterday

Prosecutors Apologize for 1964 Conviction, Seek Acquittal for Choi Mal-ja

The unprecedented apology underscores shifting #MeToo-era attitudes on self-defense in sexual assault cases, setting the stage for a final ruling on September 10.

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Choi Mal-ja raises her fist after attending a retrial of her attack on an attempted rapist 61 years ago at the Busan District Court in the southeastern port city of Busan on July 23, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • On July 23 at the Busan District Court retrial hearing, prosecutors formally apologized for the original 1964 prosecution and requested Choi Mal-ja’s acquittal on self-defense grounds.
  • Choi was convicted for biting off about 1.5 centimeters of her attacker’s tongue after he allegedly tried to rape her, receiving a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years while the assailant faced lighter suspended charges.
  • South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered a retrial in December 2023 after finding evidence of her unlawful detention and interrogation without a warrant in 1964, and the Busan High Court upheld that decision earlier in 2025.
  • Prosecutors characterized Choi’s actions as a justified defensive response for a sexual assault survivor and acknowledged that past authorities failed to protect her rights.
  • The final verdict for Choi Mal-ja’s retrial is scheduled for September 10, 2025, with observers expecting the court to accept the prosecution’s plea for acquittal.