On the 4th, when the news of the death of former army sergeant Byun Hee-soo, there is a memorial space for Sergeant Byeon in front of the representative office of Justice Party in Yeouido, Seoul. [뉴스1]
– “I remember Sergeant Byun, a tank commander who wanted to eliminate discrimination against minorities in the military with the breakthrough power of the armor.”
Selected theater company Hee-soo Byun visited the memorial service of former Sergeant Byun
Forced military “disability” in gender change
Fight in court for 14 months to return to the military
– When a former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who was forced to undergo military service for performing a sex change operation while serving in the military, was found dead on the 3rd, a year later, the Military Rights Center commemorated him like this on the 4th. “I want to protect my country regardless of gender identity. Sergeant Byeon’s cry, “Give me a chance,” ended up scattering in the air.
The National Human Rights Commission expressed condolences on that day, saying, “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 in the administrative lawsuit for canceling the disposition of Sergeant Byeon, said, “I was a man with high pride as a soldier,” and said, “I am sad to let him go,” he said.
According to the Military Rights Center, visitors to the Cheongju St. Mary’s Hospital opened on the 4th from the morning. Netizens who heard the news of obituary also prayed for praise, saying, “I hope you will be comfortable there without discrimination.”
According to the police, Sergeant Byeon was found dead at a home in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, at around 5:50 pm on the 3rd by the fire brigade. Sang-gu’s mental health center, who was helping Sergeant Byeon, reported that he could not contact him from the 28th of last month. Sergeant Byun said he was undergoing psychiatric treatment after attempting an extreme option three months ago.
Sergeant Byun, who was enlisted as a male in 2017, was appointed as a cavalry and tank crew specialty, and served as a member of an army unit in the northern region of Gyeonggi Province. While contemplating gender identity, he returned after undergoing a sex change operation in Thailand on vacation in November 2019, hoping to “continue to serve”. However, the Army made a decision in January last year, saying that Sergeant Byeon had a level 3 mental and physical disability. Controversy over the pros and cons continued, and Sergeant Byeon continued to attempt to return to the military. In February of last year, he filed a personnel complaint with the Army, saying, “Please re-examine (forced military disposition).” However, the Army refused to accept the appeal, saying that it was “legally taken in accordance with the Military Personnel Act and the discharge screening procedure.” Sergeant Byeon again filed a lawsuit against the Chief of Staff of the Army in August last year to cancel the disposition. April 15th is the date of the first pleading.
An attorney who requested anonymity about the prospect of administrative litigation predicted that “even if the disposition of cancellation is overturned, there is a high probability that the lawsuit will be dismissed because the party to be reinstated disappears.” However, attorney Park Chan-seong, a member of the Human Rights Advisory Committee at Pohang University, said, “We can see salaries that have not been received as a legal benefit. The bereaved family can continue to proceed with the lawsuit.” A lawyer from the litigation agency said, “Isn’t the position of the survivors the most important?” and said, “I will focus on the funeral now.”
Reporter Kyung-Hyun Kyung-Hyun [email protected] 
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