Soldier discharged by South Korean military for transitioning pleads with army to take her back
South Korea’s first trans soldier, Byun Hee-soo, has said she will battle a ruling that she can no longer serve in the military. (Screen capture via YouTube)
The first openly trans soldier in South Korea has pleaded with the army to take her back, after she was discharged for transitioning.
Trans people currently are barred from signing up for the military in South Korea, but a loophole means that there are no regulations on soldiers who come out as trans while serving.
Byun Hee-soo, a tank driver, was discharged this week by a military panel for undergoing gender confirmation surgery.
In a press conference after the decision was announced, Byun asked military leaders to reconsider and let her serve as a female soldier.
She said that being a soldier was her childhood dream, and she wants to serve at the tense border with North Korea.
“Regardless of my sexual identity, I’d like to show everyone that I can become one of the great soldiers who protect this country,” Byun said, holding back tears.
“Please give me that chance.”
Human rights groups also urged the military to allow the trans woman to continue serving.
The Centre for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) said that the trans soldier is a tank officer and said she had undergone hormone treatment before she had gender confirmation surgery last year.
