Im Tae-hoon: "Female soldiers do not reject Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo... It's cowardly to pit minorities against each other"

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 Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Regarding Staff Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo, who enlisted as a male and underwent gender reassignment surgery to continue serving as a female soldier, the Army has decided to discharge her. However, Lim Tae-hoon, director of the Military Human Rights Center, claimed that "the female soldiers did not reject Staff Sergeant Byeon."

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Lim appeared on tbs Traffic Broadcasting Radio's 'Kim Ji-yoon's Evening Show' and stated, "The report that female soldiers rejected Staff Sergeant Byeon is false."

He added, "I called several active-duty female soldiers, and they laughed, saying, 'No, since when have we been so concerned about protecting our human rights? That’s not something to ask us. If we say it’s uncomfortable to live with male soldiers, will they discharge all of them?'"

He continued, "Using the same minority status as an excuse to incite conflict among minorities is a cowardly act," and explained, "There is no problem living with female soldiers, and the military units are already providing support and backing."

Previously, Staff Sergeant Byeon, who was commissioned in the armored corps as a tank crew specialist, reportedly took leave in December last year to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Thailand. After returning to the military, she requested to serve as a female soldier, but the Army decided to discharge her, stating that "according to the Military Personnel Act and related laws, she falls under the reasons for being unable to continue service."