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South Korean army to discharge transgender soldier
SEOUL, Jan 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – A transgender soldier who enlisted as a man
and underwent a sex change last year will be discharged from South Korea’s
army, with the military saying Wednesday she had violated regulations.
The country remains deeply conservative about matters of sexual identity
and is less tolerant of LGBT rights than some other parts of Asia, with many
gay and transgender Koreans living largely under the radar.
The soldier — a staff sergeant in her 20s whose name has been withheld —
voluntarily enlisted before having gender-reassignment surgery in November in
Thailand.
She had expressed her desire to remain in the army but a military panel
ruled on Wednesday that she will be compulsorily discharged.
The case “corresponded to one of the reasons for being unable to continue
service”, the army said in a statement, without giving specifics.
A defence ministry spokesman said the soldier has been undergoing tests at
a military hospital, which classified the loss of male genitals as a mental
or physical handicap, prompting the panel review.
The military statement added that it was determined to avoid “unfair
discrimination and treatment”.
South Korea has a conscript army to defend itself against nuclear-armed
North Korea, with all able-bodied male citizens obliged to serve for nearly
two years.
International rights groups have expressed concern about the way South
Korea treats gay soldiers, who are banned from engaging in same-sex acts and
can face up to two years in prison if caught — even though such actions are
legal in civilian life.
BSS/AFP/RY/13:50 hrs