South Korea’s state human rights watchdog was found to have advised the military to revoke its decision to forcibly discharge a former noncommissioned officer after gender reassignment surgery. 

According to the Center for Military Human Rights Korea(CMHRK) on Monday, a committee of the National Human Rights Commission made the proposal to the Army on December 14, saying the measure against former officer Byun Hee-soo amounts to a human rights violation. 

The commission also advised the military to streamline related laws and institutions so similar violations would not be repeated. 

In January of last year, two months after Byun underwent gender reassignment surgery, the Army had discharged Byun, citing mental and physical disabilities, after a military medical team declared her "handicapped." 

The decision also drew criticism from a panel of experts with the United Nations Human Rights Council, which said it constitutes a violation of international human rights laws in a letter to the South Korean government in July.