[Full Text] Male-to-Female Transgender Corporal Byeon Hee-soo: "Beyond Gender Identity, I Want to Protect the Country"

After undergoing gender reassignment surgery, Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo, who was forcibly discharged, is expressing her position on the military's forced discharge measures at a press conference held at the Military Human Rights Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Corporal Byeon Hee-soo, who underwent gender reassignment surgery during military service, expressed on the 22nd her desire to continue serving in the military, saying, "Regardless of gender identity, I want to be a soldier who protects this country."

At a press conference held by the Military Human Rights Center that day, Corporal Byeon said, "Since childhood, my dream has been to become a soldier who protects this country and its people. I have continuously suppressed the confusing feelings about my gender identity and endured the hardships of living in a dormitory with male students during high school, driven by the desire to sacrifice for the nation. I also overcame the harsh training process at the non-commissioned officer school and the initial duty as a junior sergeant in the operational unit," she began.

She continued, "However, proportionally, my heart also began to break down, and I started reaching my mental limits. Symptoms of depression caused by gender dysphoria worsened day by day while continuing my duties, and despite it being a very earnest dream, I kept thinking that I could no longer continue military service if things remained as they were."

She explained, "I decided to acknowledge the feelings I had been suppressing and to undergo the gender correction process. It was an extremely difficult decision to reveal my identity to my unit, but once I did, I felt relieved. My unit could have initiated a review for unsuitability for active duty after hearing my story, but they supported and encouraged my decision."

Corporal Byeon added, "If I am allowed to continue serving, I will be the only female soldier who has directly experienced living and sharing hardships with the soldiers. Utilizing this experience in the military and being assigned appropriately could create a significant synergy effect."

After recently undergoing gender reassignment surgery, Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo, who was forcibly discharged, is expressing her position on the military's forced discharge measures at a press conference held at the Military Human Rights Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd.
The Army held a discharge review board for Corporal A on the 22nd and decided on discharge, stating that "according to the standards of the Military Personnel Act and related laws, it falls under the reasons for not being able to continue service." Photo by Yonhap News.

Byeon, who serves in an armored corps unit of the Army in the northern Gyeonggi region, went abroad during leave to undergo gender reassignment surgery and returned. Since then, she has expressed her intention to continue serving as a female soldier. According to the military organization, female officers and non-commissioned officers are already assigned to the armored corps, so there is no problem with serving as a woman.

However, Byeon was diagnosed with 'Grade 3 mental and physical disability' through a mandatory physical examination at a military hospital regarding bodily changes. According to the mental and physical disability grading table under the Military Personnel Act Enforcement Regulations, disability grades can be assigned related to the loss of male genitalia.

Byeon, who was in the process of applying to the competent court to legally change her gender to female, requested the military to postpone her discharge review until after the court's decision, but this was not accepted.

The Military Human Rights Center viewed the military's action as a violation of sexual self-determination rights and applied for emergency relief to the National Human Rights Commission. The Commission also considered the military's action as potentially discriminatory and recommended on the 21st to the Army Chief of Staff to postpone the discharge review by three months.

However, the military did not accept this and held a discharge review committee for Corporal A, ordering her to be discharged as of the 23rd.

Below is the full text of Corporal Byeon Hee-soo's press conference

Since childhood, my wish has been to become a soldier who protects our country and its people. To achieve this dream, I refused even my middle school teacher's suggestion to attend a humanities high school near my home and instead went far away to Jangseong, Jeollanam-do, to attend a specialized non-commissioned officer high school.

After receiving the prescribed education there and undergoing the tough and grueling training at the non-commissioned officer school, I was finally commissioned as a non-commissioned officer through a strict evaluation process. At the commissioning ceremony, I was very proud and happy to have finally realized my long-held dream.

The process of realizing my dream was not always joyful and happy. I continuously suppressed the confusing feelings about my gender identity that I had deeply held in my heart. Driven by the desire to sacrifice for the nation, I endured the hardships of living in a dormitory with male students during high school, the harsh training at the non-commissioned officer school, and the initial duty as a junior sergeant in the operational unit.

However, proportionally, my heart also began to break down, and I started reaching my mental limits. Symptoms of depression caused by gender dysphoria worsened day by day while continuing my duties, and despite it being a very earnest dream, I kept thinking that I could no longer continue military service if things remained as they were.

People around me even suggested that I undergo a review for unsuitability for active duty because of my struggles. But every time I received such advice, I rejected it, thinking about my dream of becoming a soldier devoted to the country since I was young, and I endured and continued my service.

Eventually, my mental state reached a critical point beyond my control, and I made the difficult decision to seek psychiatric treatment at the Capital Hospital. Through psychiatric treatment and psychological counseling at the hospital, I was told that actively addressing the burdens I had been carrying in my heart would help resolve my condition.

I decided to acknowledge the feelings I had been suppressing and to undergo the gender correction process. It was an extremely difficult decision to reveal my identity to my unit, but once I did, I felt relieved. My unit could have initiated a review for unsuitability for active duty after hearing my story, but they supported and encouraged my decision.

Not all of my military life was smooth and excellent. During my initial period as a junior sergeant, I wandered with a confused mind, but after making a firm decision, I worked hard and achieved excellent skills in my specialty, tank driving, receiving an A grade in tank driving in early 2019, the only one in the battalion.

Even after my assignment changed to a staff department, I diligently performed my duties and was awarded the Air Force Chief of Staff's commendation. Considering my progress, my battalion approved my overseas leave for surgery, which could have been a burden to the unit.

After the gender reassignment surgery, my superior unit encouraged me to continue serving, and I understand that this opinion was submitted to the Army Headquarters. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the battalion commander, division commander, unit members, and all comrades who supported me.

If I am allowed to continue serving, I will be the only female soldier who has directly experienced living and sharing hardships with the soldiers. Utilizing this experience in the military and being assigned appropriately could create a significant synergy effect.

I understand that the military, including myself, is not yet fully prepared to accept transgender soldiers. However, the military I love is progressing toward respecting human rights.

When I was first commissioned, soldiers using smartphones was unimaginable. Even minor mistakes could result in confinement punishment. But now, the military is evolving into an environment where smartphone use is allowed, and even the confinement system is disappearing.

I hope that in this human rights-friendly military, all sexual minority soldiers, including myself, can perform their duties and missions without discrimination. I want to remain a great precedent. Though I am a humble individual, I hope to contribute to this change.

When asked by the corps commander whether I want to continue serving after surgery and whether I want reassignment, I answered that I want to remain at the front line and continue protecting the country as a soldier.

Regardless of my gender identity, I want to show everyone that I can be one of the excellent soldiers protecting this country.

Please give me that opportunity. Thank you.