Watchdog Says Forced Discharge of Transgender Soldier Violates Human Rights
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Byun Hee-soo (C), a former South Korean soldier forcibly discharged after a sex reassignment operation, attends a press conference in Seoul over her legal fight on Aug. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) South Korea’s human rights watchdog said on Friday that the Army’s forced discharge of a sergeant who underwent a sex reassignment surgery while serving in the military was an infringement of human rights by a public authority.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said its plenary meeting held Monday concluded the Army’s decision in January not to allow Byun Hee-soo, then a staff sergeant, to continue to serve in the military as a female soldier had no legal grounds.