A citizen who participated in the’Memorial Action for Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’ is holding a candle and a’Pride flag’ (a rainbow flag symbolizing the human rights of LGBTI people) in front of the main gate of the Ministry of Defense.
Citizens’ post-it posted on the bulletin board in memory of’Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’s memorial action.
Dozens of candles lit up in front of the Ministry of Defense. Those who put a sticker that read’Byun Hee-soo’s Tomorrow Our Today’ on a rainbow mask or a paper cup surrounding a candle stood in front of the front door of the Ministry of National Defense and the war memorial across the street. There was no big slogan, no powerful remarks. Instead, they quietly stared at the Ministry of Defense, which forced Sergeant Byeon to be discharged after a sex change operation for two hours. From 6:30 pm on the evening of the 12th, a memorial action for Sergeant Byun Hee-soo was held in front of the Ministry of Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Citizens who participated in the memorial commemorated Sergeant Byeon, who passed away on the 3rd in their own way, holding candles and luminous sticks handed out by the organizer, writing on post-it notes or standing in front of the main gate of the Ministry of Defense. Dozens of post-its were posted on the memorial bulletin board temporarily installed in front of the main gate of the Ministry of Defense. In the post-it contents, there were many contents that condemned the Ministry of National Defense and made efforts to make a better society along with the heart of commemoration for Sergeant Byeon. “I hope everyone can be happy just as they are. May the souls of the deceased refrain.” “Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo. See you later in a world where life is possible without courage.” “Beyond the rainbow, I hope that the place you went to be a place that does not define us by gender, appearance, education, religion, property, or anything, just as I am, as I am.” “The Ministry of Defense apologizes and abolish the anachronistic rules.” “I wish Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, the most faithful soldier in our society, for the restoration of honor and eternal life.” On the 24th of last month, LGBTQ activist Kim Ki-hong (38) and Sergeant Byun, who died on the 24th of last month, were drawn side by side.
A picture of activist Kim Ki-hong and former sergeant Byun Hee-soo posted on the memorial bulletin board for ‘Sergeant Byun Hee-soo.
Citizens expressed their feelings of regret to Sergeant Byeon, who suddenly passed away, saying they were sorry. Mr. A(23), who revealed himself as a male to female (MTF) transgender, said, “The presence of Sergeant Byun was a great help. But looking at what happened for a few weeks, I thought,’Is it right that (the society) asks us to be alive?’ It would be nice if we could live,” he said. “I came here to leave the fact that there was a person like Sergeant Byeon.” “The society pushed people who could not live without dying, and one person died.” “It was a person who lighted the way to transgender people around us. “It’s a pity that someone who gives hope and courage leaves.” Citizens expressed their wishes for a society that will no longer be discriminated against for any reason. Park Amugae, 28, who identified himself as homosexual, wrote in a post-it that “I will make a world that does not suffer from discrimination.” He said, “To contribute to a society that is not discriminated against by any factors,” he said. “Toward a world without discrimination and hatred,” Hong Hee-jin, chairman of the Progressive Party Human Rights Committee, said, “It is urgent to enact an anti-discrimination law that says that at least discrimination is not allowed.” Mr. Haneul, 65, of LGBTQ’s group wearing a rainbow mask, said, “I came out in sadness as if I lost my child, and I consoled me to have a peaceful life in an equal world.” “There are no people who need to come out. I hope that the politics will take the lead in enacting the anti-discrimination law, not counting on their own interests.” On this day, after two hours of memorial action, all 250 candles prepared by the co-committee were lit. At 8:30 in the evening, the citizens holding candles did not leave in front of the main gate of the Ministry of National Defense until just before the organizer said,’The official event is over.’
Citizens participating in the’Memorial Action for Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’.
Hong Hee-jin, chairman of the Progressive Party’s Human Rights Committee, who participated in the’Memorial Action for Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’ is holding a candle in front of the Ministry of National Defense.
A group of LGBTQ parents who participated in the’Memorial Action for Sergeant Hee-Soo Byeon’.
Citizens who participated in the’Memorial Action for Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’ stand in front of the main gate of the Ministry of National Defense.
Citizens’ post-it posted on the bulletin board in memory of’Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’s memorial action.
Citizens’ post-it posted on the bulletin board in memory of’Sergeant Byeon Hee-soo’s memorial action.
Written and photographed by Jeon Kwang-jun, staff reporter