WRITER Lee Mun-gi is a transsexual, in
his early 40s, who went from being a woman to a
man. In his novel, "A Man of a Different Sort"
(Korean: Saek-dareun Namja), he frankly
discusses his exhausting life history. Lee's
book is the first one to give detailed
descriptions of the sexual experiences of
transgender individuals.
Lee, a "man born in a woman's body," has
experienced a life of ups and downs. Although
he's a man physically, a women's name -- Lee
Dong-suk -- is still written in his family
registry.
Lee remains strong, however. "Sexual
classification is nothing more than an
accessory," he believes. He confesses all his
sensitive experiences in his book, like his
"Men's Underwear Incident" in a [girls]
middle school, the "Secret Episode in a Women's
Prison," and his marriage and eventual
separation from a woman he loved. He pulls no
punches in discussing sex, frankly describing
how he sought the joys and acts of love through
women, his first orgasm, how he knocked a woman
out once during car sex, and other dangerous
encounters.
Born in Seoul, Lee had felt confusion over
his gender since age five. He thought of himself
as a man. The walls of reality, however, were
high. While attending Y Girls Middle School, Lee
was often scolded by female teachers for not
wearing a bra.
He did not give up being a "man," however. He
first tried to get a sex-change operation at age
14, but in 1990, his dream finally came true. In
2001, he married a woman -- a graduate of the
Korean literature department of a reputable
university and 13 years his junior -- after
living with her for six years. Yet the marriage
would last only five months, adding more pain to
Lee's life.
Lee spent his late teens as a gangster on
Chungmu-ro. He earned "three stars" for being
named a wanted criminal and repeatedly evading
capture.
With this background, he currently runs a
research and counseling center in Seoul's
Banpo-dong that works to rehabilitate ex-cons.
He lives alone.
He showed a thing for writing, and has
published two poetry anthologies, a novel and
essay collection. In 2001, he made the final cut
in the poetry section of a spring literary
contest conducted by a major daily paper. He's
now working on a move scenario.
Lee is a man with a lot to say. He puts it
all out there in his true-life story, "A Man of
a Different Sort," and in his telephone
interview with the Sports Chosun, he
discussed his experiences and beliefs at great
length.
Q: You say you've felt like a man since
age five...
My mother tried really hard to make me wear
women's shoes, but I just cried and cried. I
wanted by older brother's shoes. Only when my
grandmother brought me my brother's shoes did I
stop crying.
Q: You must have had a tough time at
puberty.
There were a lot of incidents in middle
school. Others recognized me as a boy after I
was caught wearing men's underpants while
cleaning the classroom. I felt humiliated having
to wear a girl's school uniform. I've never felt
like a girl. It was like living as a ghost.
Since it looked like high school was going to be
more of the same, I quit school. In my junior
year of middle school, I tried to get a
sex-change operation, but failed.
Q: You say you dreamt of being an
entertainer...
I passed an acting audition at Tong Yang
Broadcasting Company in my senior year of
middle school, but my family didn't like the
idea so I gave up. After this, I couldn't figure
out what I wanted to do, so I also ran track
without my parents knowing.
Q: We were surprised to hear you were a
gang boss.
I've had been the best fighter in middle
school. My fists were so strong I earned the
nickname, "The Mortar." Two days before I went
to TBC for that audition, a friend of mine came
up to me and said, "We're going to see the
Boss." In this way, I entered the underworld. At
one time, I had 17 men under my command, and my
specialty weapon was a soldier's belt. At that
time, to look like a man, I always wore pads.
After a "war" with a gang from the Jeolla
provinces at a nightclub in Mugyo-dong, I lived
life as a fugitive, and did three stints in
jail.
Q: What's life like as a
transsexual?
I've never lived life as a transsexual. I've
always lived my life naturally as a man. So I
don't really know well the transsexual life. I'd
didn't change my sex; I transcended sex. Anyway,
people who are clearly born male or female are
blessed.
Q: Your marriage was quite the
news...
Ms. K (his ex-wife) knew I was a transsexual
when she married me. She's now in Great Britain,
and she calls from time to time. She knows about
my book, too. We broke up because of the people
who used our wedding commercially.
Q: There are a lot of people interested
in transsexual sex.
Yeah, I get a lot of question like that. I
have sex just like any normal man.
Q: Why did you write the
book?
I wanted to give home to those who felt
alienated. I say, "My life is a show." I don't
hide a thing. I'd like to take the royalties
from my book and put a play I've recently
completed, "The Silence of the Assaulters," on
stage.
