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.[6][7]
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."[7]
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 Byun's house on March 3, and found her body at 5:49 pm KST. Her body had already started to decompose.[8][9]
In October 2021, South Korean court ruled that the military discharge was unlawful and cancelled the discharge.[2] Ministry of National Defense did not appeal the decision.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
^Hong, Eui-pyo (25 April 2022). "군 사망사고 진상규명위 "故 변희수 하사, '순직'으로 심사해야"" [Byun Hui-su staff sergeant should be determined death in line of duty, decided by Truth Commission on Deaths in the Military] (in Korean). Retrieved 4 June 2024. 위원회는 경찰 수사결과와 법의학 감정, 시신 검안의에 대한 조사 등을 바탕으로 변 하사의 사망시점을 확인한 결과 부사관 의무 복무 만료일 이전인 작년 2월 27일 사망한 것으로 결론 (Commission determined she was dead on Feb 27 last year (2021), based on the police investigation result, medocolegal reports, and interview with examining doctor.)
^Kim, So-yeong (27 October 2021). "故변희수 전 하사 '부당 전역' 판결 확정…軍, 항소 포기" [Late Byun-huisu 'unlawfully discharged' judgment became final... Army did not appeal]. Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
^Shin, Hyung-chul (4 April 2024). "국방부, '성전환 뒤 강제전역' 변희수 하사 순직 인정" [Ministry of National Defense acknowledges staff sergeant Byun Hui-su who was discharged after gender affirmation surgery died on-duty] (in Korean). Hankyoreh. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
