[정치]Sergeant Byeon left behind the dream of ‘transgender military service’ … Will discussions continue on improving the system?

[앵커]

Former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who was forced to discharge after undergoing a sex change operation while in the military, died without fulfilling his dream of returning to military service again.

The death of Sergeant Byun has been controversial as it raises questions about military service and the human rights of LGBTQ and transgender people in our society. It should be noted whether discussions will continue on this matter.

Reporter Kim Moon-kyung reports.

[기자]

In January last year, the military were forced to be discharged from the army after undergoing a sex change operation.

Former Sergeant Byun Hee-soo dressed in a military uniform and attended a press conference.

Sergeant Byeon, who was a specialty of the tank crew, asked for an opportunity to continue his life’s dream of military service.

[변희수 / 전 육군 하사 (2020년 1월) : 저의 성별 정체성을 떠나 제가 이 나라를 지키는 훌륭한 군인 중 하나가 될 수 있다는 것을 모두에게 보여주고 싶습니다. 저에게 그 기회를 주십시오.]

Subsequently, a personnel complaint was filed with the Army headquarters, but the dismissal was dismissed as legal.

Finally, I filed a lawsuit against the court for the cancellation of the provision and had my first plea the next month, but I recently passed away from home.

In December last year, the Korean National Human Rights Commission recommended that the provision be canceled, claiming it violated freedom of work.

[김보라미 / 변 전 하사 변호인 : 인류가 지향해야 하는 차별적인 행위를 금지해야 되는 부분과도 맞지 않는다는 점에서 너무 안타까운 일이 발생하게 된 원인이 되지 않았나(생각합니다.)]

The Defense Ministry expressed its condolences, but declined to speak on the issue of improving the system.

[문홍식 대령 / 부대변인 : 고 변희수 전 하사의 안타까운 사망에 대해서 애도를 표한다는 말씀을 드립니다.]

Early last year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed that the forced dismissal of Sergeant Byeon may violate international human rights law.

The death of Sergeant Byun, who left without fulfilling his dream, leaves a task in our society asking about the universal value of military service and the human rights of LGBTQ and transgender people, and it is noteworthy whether related discussions will continue.

YTN Kim Moon-kyung[[email protected]]is.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]