[Joint Statement] The Ministry of National Defense Must Immediately Release the Research on ‘Survey on the Military Service of Transgender’

The disclosure of research will be the starting point for equality.
Data scarcity and gaps are discrimination.

In 2021, the Ministry of National Defense commissioned the KIDA (Korea Institute for Defense Analyses) to conduct research on “Survey on the Military Service of Transgender.” The purpose of the research was to answer the questions raised after the death of Sergeant Byun Hee-soo regarding whether transgender individuals can serve as soldiers and what support is required. However, the Ministry of National Defense is still keeping the results of the research, completed in 2023, locked away in a vault. 

Open Net, representing the signatory organizations listed below, filed a request for the disclosure of information regarding the relevant research report. However, the Ministry of National Defense transferred the request to the KIDA, which issued a non-disclosure decision citing “information concerning national security, defense, unification, and foreign relations that is deemed likely to significantly harm the vital interests of the state if disclosed (Article 9, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the Information Disclosure Act).” However, it is incomprehensible how the disclosure of research is directly related to national security. In effect, the Ministry of National Defense has already established non-disclosure guidelines and has merely shifted the administrative burden onto the Institute. Such action by the Ministry of National Defense ignores the noble death of Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who courageously came forward, and is irresponsible, which deepens social hatred and prejudice against sexual minorities. 

According to media outlets, the report contains everything from a comprehensive survey of perceptions regarding transgender military service—encompassing both soldiers and the public—to specific policy scenarios. Given the domestic reality where systematic surveys on the status of sexual minorities are extremely rare, this decision made by the Ministry of National Defense is not only undermining the improvement of human rights and the discrimination against sexual minorities, but also a serious infringement on the right to know. 

The Ministry of National Defense must disclose research findings to establish a critical starting point for advancing toward an equal society. The fact that surveys on transgender soldiers in our society are extremely rare demonstrates that they have been thoroughly excluded from national policy. The absence of such surveys has led to a lack of relevant data and the failure to formulate policies aimed at improving their lives, functioning as a mechanism in a vicious cycle that perpetuates discrimination against sexual minorities.

We strongly demand that the Ministry of National Defense immediately disclose the research on ‘Survey on the Military Service of Transgender.’ The signatory group clearly states that we will stand by the minorities and file administrative litigation.

March 6, 2026

Digital Justice Network, Rainbow Action, After the Blacklist, OpenNet, Citizens’ Coalition for Media Reform,
Network Baram, Center for Information Disclosure for a Transparent Society

Korean version text