Country of Origin: South Korea

Main Focus: Trans Rights Activism, Feminist and Gender Studies, LGBTQ Community Support and Advocacy

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Chloe Seongeun Kim is a trans rights activist and a Master's student in Sociology with a specialization in Feminist and Gender Studies. Born in 1996 in Jeju, South Korea, Chloe came out as a trans woman in 2015 and faced a number of difficulties. She struggled with acceptance from her family, and also had to contend with the difficulties of navigating the military conscription process as a trans woman. Despite these challenges, Chloe could find support and community within the queer community, which helped her regain hope for her life and future.

In July 2019, Chloe had the opportunity to visit the United States for a language program. This was the first time she had ever experienced societal acceptance and support for her identity as a trans woman. Her positive experience in the US profoundly impacted her, and she felt more empowered to be her authentic self.

After returning to Korea, Chloe joined the University LGBTQ rights group Oihaengseong in September 2019. Through her involvement in this group, she learned about the importance of community and activism in the fight for trans rights. In January 2020, Chloe discovered the work of Judith Butler and read Gender Trouble, a seminal book in queer and feminist studies. This book profoundly impacted her, and she became determined to pursue graduate studies to gain a deeper understanding of queer lives and contribute to the knowledge about trans rights issues.

In 2021, Chloe observed the death of Staff Sergeant Byun Hui-su, the first openly trans soldier in Korea, and other trans/homophobic incidents. The tragic death of Staff Sergeant Byun Hui-su and the ongoing discrimination and violence against trans people in Korea made Chloe realize that she could no longer stay in Korea. In July 2022, Chloe decided to move to Ottawa, Canada. Since her move, Chloe has been working to foster a trans-friendly community space and to raise the voice of Korean trans people. She wants to use her education and her experiences to contribute to the fight for trans rights and to create a more inclusive and accepting society for all trans people.