"Choi Mal-ja was 19 in 1964 when she was attacked by a 21-year-old man in the southern town of Gimhae. He pinned her to the ground and repeatedly forced his tongue into her mouth, at one point blocking her nose to stop her from breathing, according to court records. Choi managed to break free by biting off 1.5cm of his tongue."
"In one of South Korea's most contentious rulings on sexual violence, the aggressor received only six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation but not attempted rape. Choi, now 79, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. That decision was overturned on Wednesday by the Busan district court which ruled her actions constituted justifiable self-defence under South Korean law."
"Choi smiled as supporters handed her bouquets of flowers after the ruling. Women's rights activists and supporters celebrated, waving a placard that read: Choi Mal-ja did it! In a press conference after the ruling, Choi said: Sixty-one years ago, in a situation where I could understand nothing, the victim became the perpetrator and my fate was sealed as a criminal. For the victims who shared the same fate as mine, I wanted to be a source of hope for them."
Choi Mal-ja was 19 in 1964 when a 21-year-old man attacked her in Gimhae, pinning her down, forcing his tongue into her mouth and blocking her nose. Choi bit off 1.5cm of his tongue to escape. The aggressor received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation but was not charged with attempted rape. Choi was convicted of grievous bodily harm and given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The Busan district court overturned the 1965 conviction, ruling her actions constituted justifiable self-defence and an attempt to protect bodily integrity and sexual self-determination. Choi is now 79.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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