South Korea woman cleans her name after 6 decades of condemnation of the sexual attacker

Seoul A South Korean court acquitted a woman on Wednesday Six decades ago I was convicted to defend herself Against sexual violence, after it was inspired by the #Metoo movement in the country to challenge government.

Choi Mal Ja was on the nineteenth of 1964 when she was attacked by a 21 -year -old man in the southern town of Gimhi. He hung her on the ground and forced his tongue over and over again on her mouth, at a time when she prevents her nose to prevent her from breathing, according to court records.

Choi managed to be free by biting about half an inch of his tongue.

In one of the most controversial South Korea rulings on sexual violence, the aggressor received only six months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of infringement of others ’property and intimidation – but he did not attempt to rape.

But Choi, who is now 79 years old, was convicted of causing serious physical damage and delivering a 10 -month prison sentence, hanging for two years.

This decision was canceled on Wednesday by the local Boussan court, which ruled that its actions “form a self -defense” under the South Korean law.

The court said in a statement sent to Agence France -Presse that Choi’s actions at that time “considered an attempt to escape an unjust violation of its physical safety and the determination of sexual fate.”

The ruling transmits the condemnation of Choi in 1965, when the court found that its actions “exceeded the reasonable limits of the lawful self -defense.”

Choi wears a bright pink jacket, where supporters handed over her multiple packages after the ruling. Women’s rights activists and their supporters, and many emotions clearly celebrate, waving a banner reading, “Choi Mal-Ja did that!”

“Sixty -one years ago, in a position in which I could not understand anything, the victim became a perpetrator, and my destiny was closed as a criminal,” Choi said at a press conference in the wake of the ruling. “For the victims who participated in the same fate, I wanted to be a source of hope for them.”

He gained the gravity of Choi momentum after the #Metoo movement, which was launched in South Korea Huge women’s rights protests It led to victories over cases ranging from access to abortion to tougher penalties Spycam crimesAnd International K-POP music account account.

Choi submitted the trial in 2020, but the lower courts initially refused to seek it. After years of campaigns and appeal, the South Korea Supreme Court finally ordered the trial in 2024.

Her lawyers said they are now planning to search for compensation from the state for the damage it suffered from its condemnation six decades ago.