Byun Hui-su

Byun Hui-su (June 11, 1998 – February 27, 2021 ) was the first known transgender soldier in South Korea.

She had risen to the rank of staff sergeant and was a tank driver before being discharged from the army in January 2020 after she underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand in November 2019. She had fought for the right to continue serving in the army, but was denied and discharged. The army subsequently denied her request for reinstatement in July 2020.

Speaking about her decision to undergo surgery, she stated, "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. I want to show everyone that I can also be one of the great soldiers who protect this country."

In March 2021, she was found dead in her home. Workers from Sangdanggu National Mental Health Center (where Byun received treatment) called for someone to check up on her as they hadn't been able to reach her since February 28. The fire department arrived at Ms Byun's house on March 3, and found her body at 5:49 pm KST. Her body had already started to decompose. In October 2021, South Korean court ruled that the military discharge was unlawful and cancelled the discharge. Ministry of National Defense did not appeal the decision. In April 2024, Ministry of Defense's Central Committee for Examination of Killed or Wounded in Action and Death or Injury in the Line of Duty decided to acknowledge that Byun died as a soldier on the line of duty, thus paved way to the possibility of Byun’s burial in a national cemetery. The appeals committee found that she died of a depression caused by discharge, and decided there was a probable cause in relation to official duties. This overturned Army General Committee for Examination of Killed or Wounded in Action and Death or Injury in the Line of Duty's December 2020 decision which determined her death was not related to the discharge.