South Korea’s military discharged its first known transgender member after she underwent gender reassignment surgery — a decision the soldier has pledged to battle.
Staff Sgt. Byun Hui-su, who said she served as a tank driver, had the surgery in Thailand in November after suffering depression over her gender identity for an extended period.
The military made the decision to dismiss her on Wednesday — saying in a statement it concluded the soldier’s procedure can be considered a reason for discharge.
The decision, which the military said went through due process, was based on a provision of military law outlining that personnel with physical or mental disabilities can be discharged if those issues did not stem from combat or occur in the line of duty.
In a statement, the army explained that while it will make efforts to protect soldiers’ human rights and prevent discrimination, the surgery left Byun unable to complete her tour of duty.
But during a news conference, Byun said she would pursue a lawsuit against the army — and potentially take it to the country’s highest court.
“I will continue to fight until the day I can remain to serve in the army,” she said. “I’ll challenge the decision until the end, to the Supreme Court.”
She broke down in tears as she shared her struggle with gender dysphoria — which results from the internal conflict between physical gender and gender identity.
“It was an extremely difficult decision to let my base know of my identity, but once I did, I felt much better,” Byun told reporters. “I thought I would finish serving in the army and then go through the transition surgery and then re-enter the army as a female soldier. But my depression got too severe.”
Becoming a soldier was her childhood dream, she added, and she now wants to serve at the conflict-ridden 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,” an emotional Byun declared. “Please give me that chance.”
A human rights organization had filed a petition with a national watchdog insisting that the army postpone its decision until after Byun completes the court process — but the army said legal proceedings are irrelevant to its personnel decisions.
With Post wires