held at the Forest Road Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul last March. “I had a sex change operation because I wanted to continue my military service. After the surgery, the depression disappeared, and everything went well.” Hee-soo Byun did at Gyeongui Line Forest Road Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul last March. <한겨레>He is showing a bright expression in an interview with. <한겨레> Material photo
Last week, two new LGBT people died. Kim Ki-hong (38), co-organizing chair of the Jeju Queer Culture Festival, was found dead on the 24th of last month, who wrote a letter of solidarity to former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo (23), who had to leave the military for a sex change operation, saying, “We hope for each other’s existence. And on the 3rd, a week later, Sergeant Byeon was found dead at a house in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Voices are growing that “there should be no more social killings” as a result of the successive deaths of LGBTQ people who faced the discriminatory gaze of Korean society. A wave of condolences from social groups and citizens continued. The Military Rights Center said on the 4th, “Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, a handsome soldier, a transgender soldier, left with us. I remember Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who laughed loudly saying,’I will eliminate discrimination against military minorities with the breakthrough power of the armor.’ Amnesty International’s Korean branch said, “I remember Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who gave me courage for a world free of discrimination and hatred. I am against transgender hatred.” The Korean Women’s Political Network also commemorated the deceased, saying, “Acknowledging the existence as it is, it is not a matter of consideration, inclusion, tolerance, but a fundamental right that everyone deserves.” Transgender parties expressed their willingness to take over the will of the deceased while being disheartened. The Trans Liberation Front made a memorial comment, saying, “I was encouraged because you were there. Many transgender queer parties were encouraged and comforted by seeing Sergeant Byun Hee-soo’s courageous choice.” The rainbow action against LGBTI discrimination said, “The lives of transgender people cannot be cut off before and after sex change, and the deceased lived a consistent life as a transgender woman and as an army sergeant. We will now take over the movement of the deceased.” The social network service (SNS) was filled with voices saying, “We must create a world free of discrimination and hatred” along with memorial services. Twitter said, “I will join in creating a society that does not have to fight to prove their existence, and that does not make LGBTQ fighters fight hate” (@*****eye), “I will make this society more proper. We, who couldn’t change it correctly, should also be self-confident. So, not only the regret, but the sense of responsibility and debt remain in my heart” (@*****_G_). There were also voices that criticized an army official, saying, “There is no separate military position on the news of the death of a civilian,” and urged the National Assembly to enact an anti-discrimination law. Sergeant Byeon, who had undergone sex change surgery on vacation in November 2019, hoped to serve in the female military, but on January 23 last year, the army judged him as “level 3 mentally and physically disabled” and forced him to be discharged. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea determined that the military’s action in December of last year was “infringement of human rights without legal basis.” Sergeant Byeon filed an administrative lawsuit to cancel the disposition in August last year, but it is said that he suffered because the trial did not proceed. The first pleadings were scheduled to be held next month. By Lee Ju-bin and Lim Jae-woo, staff reporters [email protected]
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