But rights groups have long complained about unclear guidelines on the issue, citing cases where transgender people exempted from military service were later sued on charges of faking their gender identity to avoid the draft. Some transgender people voluntarily join the military but hide their identity to avoid harassment and abuse from fellow soldiers. Others are forced to serve after failing to convince conscript officials of their current identity.
The South Korean military also lacks specific regulations on what to do with those who have gender-reassignment operations while in service.
The Center for Military Human Rights in Korea, a watchdog based in Seoul, the South Korean capital, that monitors rights violations within the military, publicized the case of the transgender staff sergeant last week.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/world/asia/south-korea-sex-change-soldier.html