Former Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo Submits Personnel Appeal for 'Female Soldier Re-enlistment'

On January 22, after undergoing gender reassignment surgery, then-Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo, who was forcibly discharged, is speaking at a press conference held at the Military Human Rights Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Byeon Hee-soo (22), a former Army sergeant who underwent gender reassignment surgery from male to female and was discharged, has submitted a personnel appeal for "re-enlistment as a female soldier."

On the 19th, according to the Military Human Rights Center, it was confirmed that Byeon filed a personnel appeal with the Army Headquarters in protest against the Army's decision to discharge her.

A representative from the Military Human Rights Center stated, "Byeon submitted the personnel appeal to the Army through registered mail," and added, "We are also preparing legal responses such as administrative lawsuits in case the personnel appeal is not accepted."

They continued, "As the formation of a legal team for Byeon is in its final stages, it is expected that the first related meeting will be held within this week."

Last month on the 22nd, the Army held a discharge review committee and decided to discharge Byeon, stating, "According to the standards under the Military Personnel Act and related laws, it was determined that she falls under the category of 'unable to continue service.'"

At a press conference that day, Byeon said, "I know that the military I love is not yet ready to accept transgender soldiers, but the military is progressing toward respecting human rights," and added, "I hope that all sexual minority soldiers, including myself, can perform their duties without discrimination in the military."

She also declared, "I will fight until the day I return," signaling legal responses such as personnel appeals and administrative lawsuits.

Byeon was commissioned with the armored corps specialty as a tank crew member and continued her military service until last year when she underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand.

On the 10th, the Cheongju District Court accepted Byeon's application for gender correction and decided to legally change her gender from male to female.

The court explained the decision, stating, "We comprehensively considered the process through which Byeon received hormone therapy and surgery, her childhood desire to become a soldier, her continuous treatment and military service after achieving that dream, and her hope to continue serving as a female soldier."

The Military Human Rights Center emphasized, "There is no reason why Byeon, who has completed all gender correction procedures, cannot serve as a female soldier," and added, "The Ministry of National Defense can no longer hide behind the cowardly excuse of testicular or penile absence."

The Military Human Rights Center has taken steps to assist Byeon by organizing a joint countermeasure committee to support her legal responses, including personnel appeals and administrative lawsuits against the Army's discharge decision, as well as support for the transgender sergeant.

They also publicly recruited a legal team to conduct lawsuits to cancel Byeon's forced discharge.