In the early morning of the 4th, a post was posted on the Military Rights Center, saying, “I remember Sergeant Byeon, a tank commander who wanted to eliminate discrimination against minorities in the military through the breakthrough of the armor.” This is a memorial to former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who was found dead at home the day before. The deceased was forcibly discharged from the army in January of last year for having undergone a sex change operation while serving in the military. “I want to protect the country regardless of gender identity. Give me an opportunity,” and filed a lawsuit against the country, and the’breakthrough power of armor’ has stopped.
Former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo is showing a private overseas travel permit at a press conference on January 22 last year. Newsis
“A person who was proud of being a soldier”
The National Human Rights Commission mourned that day, “His efforts, who died in the face of deep-rooted discrimination and hatred, will be remembered forever in the future.” Attorney Borami Kim, who helped Sergeant Byeon’s administrative lawsuit (to cancel the global disposition), recalled that he was a man with high pride as a soldier.
According to the Military Rights Center, on the 4th, Cheongju St. Mary’s Hospital was established in the morning. Netizens who were exposed to obituaries also wished for condolence, saying, “I hope you are comfortable without discrimination in the place you left.” On the other hand, there were not many comments saying, “I am sorry for the death of the deceased, but I do not support his actions.”
According to the police on the 4th, Sergeant Byeon was found dead at home at around 5:50 pm on the 3rd by the fire brigade. The mental health center in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju-si, who was helping Sergeant Byeon, made a report since last month’s 28th did not reach him. It was belatedly revealed that he tried to make extreme choices three months ago and subsequently received psychiatric treatment.
On the 4th, when news of the death of former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who was forced to discharge after undergoing a sex change operation, a space is prepared in front of the representative office of the Justice Party in Yeouido, Seoul. News 1
Military judges sex change surgery as a mental and physical disorder
Sergeant Byun’s lonely’struggle’ was publicized about two years ago. Sergeant Byeon, who was enlisted as a male in 2017, was appointed as a cavalry and tank crew specialty, and served in an army unit in the northern region of Gyeonggi Province. While contemplating gender identity, he hoped to’continue to serve’ after returning from Thailand after undergoing a sex change operation on vacation in November 2019.
Male soldiers’ gender change and demand for continued service This was a provocation to Korean society, which was used to ignoring the issue of LGBTQ people. The Army judged Sergeant Byun as a Level 3 mental and physical disability and made a decision to discharge in January last year.
His forced dismissal brought controversy over the pros and cons. The army decided that “the soldiers cannot perform their duties because the genitals and testicles have been removed (level 3 mental and physical disabilities).” Public opinion continued, “It is necessary to consider the specificity of the military. It is uncomfortable for soldiers who serve together.” Sergeant Byun and the Military Rights Center confronted that “the result of the operation does not correspond to a dysfunction or physical damage. The disposition of discharge has no legal basis.”
Sergeant Byun contemplated at a press conference filing an administrative suit to cancel the disposition held at the Participation Solidarity in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 11th. News 1
Will the lawsuit to cancel the disposition continue?
Sergeant Byeon’s lawsuit to cancel the disposition against the Chief of Staff of the Army in August last year was ahead of the first pleading date on the 15th of next month. In the legal world, the opinion prevailed that “his death made the lawsuit for cancellation of military service unclear.” An attorney in Seocho-dong, who requested anonymity, said, “Even if the entire cancellation is overturned, the person who will be reinstated has disappeared.”
Attorney Park Chan-seong (Pohang University Human Rights Advisory Committee) argued, “You can see the salaries that have not been received as legal benefits. It will not be easy, but in principle, the bereaved family can continue the lawsuit.” In December last year, the Seoul Administrative Court judged that “there is a serious flaw in the cancellation of the discharge of the Ministry of National Defense” in a lawsuit for canceling the disposition of the army captain who died after being discharged. The lawsuit was filed by the captain’s wife.
Sergeant Byeon’s lawsuit representatives said, “Isn’t the position of the survivors the most important? Now, I will focus on the funeral.”
Reporter Kyung-Hyun Kyung-Hyun [email protected]
