A South Korean court acquitted on Wednesday a woman convicted six decades ago for defending herself against sexual violence, after she challenged the ruling inspired by the country鈥檚 #MeToo movement.
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 about 1.5 centimetres of his tongue.
In one of South Korea鈥檚 most contentious rulings on sexual violence, the aggressor received only six months in prison, suspended for two years, for trespassing and intimidation 鈥� but not attempted rape.
But 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 Wednesday聽by the Busan District Court which ruled her actions 鈥榗onstitute justifiable self-defence鈥� under South Korean law.
Choi鈥檚 actions at the time are now 鈥榙eemed an attempt to escape an unjust infringement on her bodily integrity and sexual self-determination鈥�, the court said in a statement sent to AFP.
The ruling overturns Choi鈥檚 1965 conviction, when the court found her actions had 鈥榚xceeded the reasonable bounds of legally permissible self-defence鈥�.
Wearing a bright pink blazer, Choi beamed as supporters handed her multiple bouquets after the ruling.
Women鈥檚 rights activists and her supporters celebrated, many visibly emotional, waving a placard that read, 鈥楥hoi Mal-ja did it!鈥�
鈥楽ixty-one years ago, in a situation where I could understand nothing, the victim became the perpetrator, and my fate was sealed as a criminal,鈥� Choi said in a press conference following the ruling.
鈥楩or the victims who shared the same fate as mine, I wanted to be a source of hope for them,鈥� she said.
Choi鈥檚 appeal gained momentum after the #MeToo movement, which took off globally in 2017, inspired her to seek justice.
In South Korea, massive women鈥檚 rights protests have led to victories on issues ranging from abortion access to tougher penalties for spycam crimes.
Choi filed for a retrial in 2020, but lower courts initially rejected her petition.
After years of campaigning and an appeal, South Korea鈥檚 top聽court聽finally ordered a retrial in 2024.
Her lawyers said they now plan to seek compensation from the state for the damages she suffered from her conviction six decades ago.
