Table 5 Newspaper readers’ opposing comments on the inclusion of transgender people in the military service

I. Compliance with employment contract (N = 149)

1. Undergoing gender reassignment surgery on duty is a violation of obligations of soldiers

35 (6.4)

· It’s not a human rights issue. It’s a matter of military discipline, morale, and regulations.

· Isn’t it a loss of military power?

2. Undergoing gender reassignment surgery on duty is a breach of contract

32 (5.8)

· You really don’t know what the problem is? The military hired a person with man’s power and physical condition, and it surely is a breach of contract.

· The Ministry of National Defense had recruited a male soldier. Recruitment guidelines are part of the contractual relationship.

3. She should be punished for military disobedience

24 (4.4)

· I am opposed to the dismissal. Byun should be arrested for damaging military supply and disobedience.

· A soldier with this kind of spirit who behaves like this should be treated according to military law.

4. Undergoing gender reassignment surgery on duty is a military disobedience (there was no permission by supervisors)^a

23 (4.2)

· Isn’t it your fault that you had sex reassignment surgery on vacation without any permission when serving in the military? It makes no sense to embrace and accept one who changed gender on duty.

· What do you want after breaking the military law? Soldiers need permission from the commander to go abroad.

5. Undergoing gender reassignment surgery on duty was inappropriate and she should’ve done it before joining the Army or after self-dismissal

21 (3.8)

· Byun should’ve had gender reassignment surgery after being discharged from the military or before joining. Did Byun want to get attention from the media?

· You don’t stay in the military for the rest of your life. Shouldn’t Byun change after self-dismissal? So sad …

6. She should be punished for damaging ordnance (part of a soldier’s body)

11 (2.0)

· Byun should be subjected to a military trial and dismissed disgracefully for self-harming one’s own body.

7. She should undergo gender reassignment surgery once again and finish serving as a man

3 (0.5)

· Even if it’s useless, reconstruct the male genitals with all available medical technique, and let Byun serve in the male troop.

II. Human rights (N = 134)

1. It is impossible to let Byun serve in a female troop because human rights of her female colleagues should be concerned (taking a shower, getting dressed, or sleeping)

76 (13.8)

· I can fully understand, but the question is whether female soldiers would be willing to share a bedroom and bathroom with Byun.

· If Byun is allowed in a female troop, THE genuine female soldiers have to get dressed in front of Byun. Don’t they have human rights? This can’t be allowed for god’s sake.

2. It is impossible to let Byun serve as a soldier because human rights of her colleagues are violated.

58 (10.6)

· To respect the human rights of LGBT people might be the demand of the time. Still, the human rights of those who have to work with Byun even if they dislike LGBT people are important.

· Don’t you know the basic principle of a democratic society? Do no harm to others.

III. Ineligibility (N = 44)

1. She is not mentally eligible since people with gender dysphoria are subject to military exemption (require medical treatment)

25 (4.6)

· Byun shouldn’t have been allowed in the military in the first place. Letting Byun serve in a female troop doesn’t make a sense at all.

· It’s a mental disorder! A person suffering from gender identity disorder should not be enlisted in the military. Un expected incidents such as genocide may be possible.

2. She is not physically eligible due to loss of male genitals (self-harm)

14 (2.6)

· There is a military regulation associated with body injury. Any male soldier who has completely lost male genitals are subject to discharge due to the Level three mental and physical disability. If the loss happens during an operation, you receive pension, but in this case, Byun should be discharged due to self-harm.

· Those with damaged testicles are exempted from the military service.

3. She is not physically eligible due to her unchanged genetic characteristics

5 (0.9)

· Gender reassignment surgery doesn’t change sex chromosome. It is reasonable for the military to review Byun as a disabled person since Byun is a man with an XY paring who has female genitals.

IV. National perspective (N = 33)

1. Military is a specialized organization responsible for maintaining national security of this country which is in a unique situation (truce)

18 (3.3)

· We’re in a truce right now. Don’t you know what truce is? There is no human rights or consciousness during the war. We’re in a survival game.

· There is a difference between countries that have national defense obligations and countries that do not.

2. She should join the military of another country

10 (1.8)

· Why can’t it be allowed in this country? You can simply go to another country where it is allowed.

3. Female soldiers are useless or weaker than males

5 (0.9)

· A female soldier or a feminine soldier who should be protected by males wouldn’t be much of help for the national defense.

VI. Organizational matter (N = 17)

1. Military is a specialized organization requiring teamwork.

17 (3.1)

· Even if we treat Byun as an ordinary person with no prejudice or hatred, there is no doubt that the military is a specialized organization, and a lot of changes should be followed to let Byun serve. We should not only discuss about discrimination against minorities but also about reverse discrimination.

· There is a clear prejudice against sexual minorities, but this is out of context. This happened in a specialized organization, the military, so that forced discharge is acceptable.

VII. Undefined (N = 172)

1. Presented no specific rationale

101 (18.4)

· Do I need any explanations? Byun should be dismissed.

· I am against transgender people joining the military.

2. Presented multiple rationale

71 (12.9)

· A person with unclear gender identity cannot be allowed in the same place with female soldiers. Byun is not qualified as a female soldier since the military enlisted Byun as a male in the first place.

· The military protects this country, and it is where energetic young people are crowded. A transgender person joins the army and causes a chaos? If your child were to serve with a transgender person, who would support it as a parent? Do homosexuals have human rights while straights have dog rights?

Total

549 (100.0)