[Comprehensive] 20s Male-to-Female Transgender Passes Women's University Entrance Exam... Assisted by Lawyer 'Park Hanhee'

Transgender Woman Finalizes Admission to Sookmyung Women's University.
Motivated to Transition by Lawyer Park Hanhee
Also Shares Views on Forced Discharge of Vice Sergeant Byun Hee-soo

Sookmyung Women's University located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A transgender woman who underwent gender reassignment surgery from male to female has been finally admitted to Sookmyung Women's University this year. It is known that the background of her series of decisions, including deciding to undergo gender reassignment and choosing law as her major, was influenced by transgender (male→female) lawyer Park Han-hee. Lawyer Park Han-hee is the first transgender lawyer in South Korea.

According to a report by Newsis on the 30th, A (22), a transgender person who underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand in August last year, was recently finally admitted through the 2020 academic year freshman admission process at Sookmyung Women's University. A is expected to enter the College of Law.

A, who became female after undergoing gender reassignment surgery from male to female, had her gender correction application approved by the court in October last year, changing the first digit of her resident registration number from '1' to '2'.

According to the media, A said, "I wanted to show that transgender people who have undergone gender reassignment surgery and changed their resident registration numbers can confidently apply to and be admitted to women's universities," adding, "I hope other transgender people who wish to enter women's universities will gain strength by seeing me."

In an interview with Newsis, A said, "I felt a lot while reading articles about lawyer Park Han-hee's story, and I thought, 'Transgender people can do this too.' From then on, I became interested in law, and as I studied by reading many books, I found many interesting topics related to human rights, which led me to choose this path."

◆ "Corporal Byun Hee-soo's forced discharge... Our society still has a long way to go"

A also expressed her views on the recent controversy over the forced discharge of Army Corporal Byun Hee-soo, a transgender (male→female) soldier. She pointed out, "Seeing someone being dismissed simply because of changes in outward appearance made me think that our society still has a long way to go."

Lawyer Hanhee Park / Photo by Gongik Byeonhosa Moim Hope Making Law website

◆ Transgender lawyer Park Han-hee, a source of motivation for gender reassignment

The person who gave A the greatest motivation to apply to law school is known to be Park Han-hee (35), South Korea's first transgender (male→female) lawyer.

After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Park worked at a construction company. Then, in March 2013, she entered Seoul National University Law School.

After coming out in the spring of 2014, Park has been working as a lawyer specializing in protecting the human rights of sexual minorities. In a past interview with a media outlet, she said, "My dream is to work as a lawyer until I am 60 years old," and added, "I want to be a 'role model' for other transgender people."

Also, at a press conference commemorating the publication of "The Rainbow Wants More Colors" held at the Changbi Seogyo Building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on December 10 last year, she said, "Today (December 10) is the World Human Rights Day established by the United Nations in 1948," adding, "Although it has been nearly 70 years since the day was established, the human rights of sexual minorities are still stagnant, and anti-discrimination laws have not been enacted. I hope the domestic reality, which discriminates against sexual minorities and does not comply with international standards, will change even a little."

In particular, through her book, she pointed out that South Korea's resident registration number becomes a severe stigma and a basis for discrimination for some people.

Meanwhile, Park is currently active as the head of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) team at the public interest human rights lawyers' group "Law Making Hope."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.