South Korean Woman Granted Retrial 60 Years After Self-Defense Against Alleged Rapist

The 78-year-old woman, previously convicted for biting off her attacker's tongue, seeks justice decades after a controversial ruling.

Choi Mal-ja, now 78, was convicted in 1965 for biting off part of her alleged rapist's tongue in self-defense when she was 18 years old.
The Busan High Court recently granted a retrial after multiple failed attempts since 2020, citing inconsistencies in the original case handling.
Choi was originally sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while her attacker received a six-month suspended sentence.
The case highlights systemic failures in South Korea's judicial system during the 1960s, including pressure for Choi to marry her attacker and the dropping of attempted rape charges against him.
Choi's family faced ongoing harassment from her attacker, including threats and home invasions, despite a financial settlement her father arranged.