South Korean army bids to overturn decision allowing transgender soldier to serve

Sergeant Byun Hui-su was dismissed from the army after undergoing gender reassignment (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea’s military has said it will appeal a landmark court ruling that reversed its decision to discharge the country’s first known transgender soldier before she was found dead earlier this year.

A local district court ruled this month that the military unlawfully discriminated against the soldier, Sergeant Byun Hui-su, by forcing her out last year for undergoing gender reassignment surgery.