"This is my first time this year, I'll come again"... The identity of the woman who appeared at the 'sudden' conscription examination center

Transgender Women Attend to Apply for Exemption
Full Gender Reassignment Surgery Required for Exemption

Beauty queens suddenly appeared at the conscription examination center of the Thai military, which only drafts men, causing a sensation.

Last year, the Thai influencer who became a hot topic for revealing their conscription status. Farida Keraeyudan's Instagram.

Last year, Thai influencer Farida Keraeyudan, who became a hot topic for revealing her conscription status, on Instagram.

Recently, local Thai media such as Channel 7 reported that two beauties participated in the selection process at a conscription examination center located in Uthai Thani Province. These women were transgender individuals who were born male and had undergone gender reassignment surgery. They came to apply for exemption from conscription by submitting proof of their gender reassignment surgery.

One of them, Arit Kanika (23), said, "Two years ago, during conscription, I postponed the health check because I didn't have time," adding, "This year, I took the examination and submitted my gender identity certificate." Another transgender, Thanet Sanrop (21), said, "This is my first time coming to take the selection test this year, and I don't even know how things are going," and added, "I think I will have to come again next year to submit the certificate."

A transgender person submitting proof of gender reassignment surgery to apply for military service exemption. AMARINTV

Like South Korea, Thailand is a country with a 'conscription system,' and conscription examinations are held every April. Only male citizens are drafted into the Thai military.

When Thai men reach a certain age, they receive conscription documents. After responding, the Ministry of Defense of Thailand collects the responses and accepts conscription applications. The military service period is one year for high school graduates and six months for university graduates who volunteer.

After recruiting volunteers, the remaining required personnel are selected by a 'lottery' system. Since the number of conscription candidates exceeds three times the number of personnel needed by the military, the lottery determines who will serve. If a conscription candidate draws a red card from the box, they enter active duty; if they draw a black card, they are exempted. Those who enter active duty through this method must serve a mandatory two-year term.

Transgender individuals are no exception. However, only those classified as types 1 and 2 among the military's 'types 1, 2, and 3' are subject to conscription. Type 1 refers to those who appear as typical males externally, type 2 refers to males who have undergone breast augmentation surgery, and type 3 refers to those who have undergone full genital surgery.

The Thai military originally excluded transgender individuals from conscription by classifying them as 'psychological abnormality' or 'gender identity disorder' under the Military Service Act. However, after human rights groups protested that these terms were discriminatory, the military created a classification system of 'types 1, 2, and 3.'