Korea's human rights watchdog on Thursday approved the establishment of a foundation advocating for the rights of transgender people following nearly two years of deliberations. The National Human Rights Commission gave the nod to the non-profit Byun Hee-soo Foundation, named after a late transgender soldier who was forcibly discharged from service, after a civic group filed the application in May 2024. While decisions on such matters are typically made within 20 days, proceedings were delayed as the move faced opposition from a conservative member of the watchdog's three standing commissioners. The delay prompted the foundation's preparatory committee to take legal action against the watchdog, with the Seoul Administrative Court ruling last December that the delayed proceedings were illegal. Along with the ruling, the standing commissioner who had voiced opposition to the envisioned foundation left office last month, leading to Thursday's decision. "I apologize to the preparatory committee for the approval's delay due to unreasonable reasons, such as a certain member's continued oppositi