Woman Who Bit Off Rapist’s Tongue During Attack Acquitted After 61 Years

A woman from South Korea has received an acquittal 61 years following her conviction for severing her assailant’s tongue through an action deemed self-defense.

In the month of May during 1964, an 18-year-old individual named Choi Mal-ja experienced a sexual assault perpetrated by a 21-year-old male, known solely by the surname Roh, within the city of Gimhae. As the assault unfolded, Roh restrained Choi against the earth, obstructed her nasal passages, and compelled his tongue into her oral cavity. In order to break free, Choi managed to bite away more than half an inch of his tongue.

Just seventeen days afterward, Roh unlawfully entered Choi’s residence, menaced her father using a blade, and subsequently initiated legal proceedings against her on charges of causing serious physical injury. Choi ended up receiving a prison term of 10 months, whereas Roh was given a six-month penalty that was deferred for a period of two years, related to offenses of unauthorized entry and coercion.

Choi, who is presently 79 years of age, achieved full exoneration on Wednesday as a Busan district court determined that her conduct constituted a legitimate instance of self-protection. She marked the occasion right outside the court building, exclaiming, “I, Choi Mal-ja, am finally innocent!” Those in support carried signs displaying the messages “Choi Mal-ja did it!” and “Choi Mal-ja succeeded.”

Woman who bit off rapist’s tongue during attack acquitted after 61 years

In the course of a retrial held in July, the judicial body concluded that her response was an appropriate countermeasure to “an unjust infringement on her bodily integrity and sexual self-determination.” The prosecuting authorities issued an apology for the way she was handled, acknowledging the “immeasurable pain and suffering” that she had to withstand.

Choi had been striving to prompt a fresh review of her legal matter ever since 2018, motivated by the #MeToo initiative that gained traction in South Korea. She expressed that her objective was to provide encouragement to those who had faced comparable forms of mistreatment. Back in her initial court hearing, the credibility of her account was questioned, and the presiding judge even proposed that she wed her aggressor, which mirrored the prevailing cultural and judicial perspectives on sexual violence during that era.

This successful retrial has been widely praised as a pivotal development concerning rights to self-defense and the continued efforts to overhaul the approaches taken in handling cases of sexual violence within South Korea.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli