Watch South Korea’s first transgender soldier who has been dismissed.
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Video Credit: Rumble
South Korea’s first transgender soldier, who underwent gender reassignment surgery last year, has been dismissed by the military.
Byun Hui-su, who holds the rank of staff sergeant, said that she would sue the military and will continue to fight for her rights.
Last year, Byun, who is stationed in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul, underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand and was hopeful that she would continue to serve in the military.
However, she was dismissed for undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
Byun has now said that she would file a lawsuit against the army. She said: “I will continue to fight until the day I can remain to serve in the army. I’ll challenge the decision until the end, to the Supreme Court.”
Byun broke down in tears as she said it was an extremely difficult decision for her. She thought she would continue to serve in the army as a female soldier after the surgery but she was dismissed by the army.
Meanwhile, the army said in a statement that though they protect soldiers’ human rights and prevent discrimination, Byun wouldn’t be able to serve in the military.
Byun told reporters at a news conference in Seoul: “It was an extremely difficult decision to let my base know of my identity, but once I did, I felt much better. I thought I would finish serving in the army and then go through the transition surgery and then reenter the army as a female soldier. But my depression got too severe.”
“Apart from my gender identity, I want to show everyone that I can also be one of the great soldiers who protect this country.”
One army official has come forward to support Byun and said that she has every right to continue to serve in the military if she has reapplied to serve in the female corps after the surgery.
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