Woman Acquitted After 61 Years in Self-Defense Case | JQJO

A South Korean woman, Choi Mal-ja, was acquitted 61 years after being wrongly convicted for biting off her attacker's tongue during an alleged sexual assault. Initially sentenced to 10 months for grievous bodily harm while her attacker received a suspended sentence, Ms. Choi fought for decades to clear her name. After a retrial, prosecutors apologized and requested the conviction be overturned. The case, cited in legal textbooks as an example of failing to recognize self-defense in sexual violence cases, highlights ongoing issues with gender bias in the South Korean justice system. Ms. Choi plans to sue the state for compensation.