Proof of a New Identity
The ID photo session began when the photographer said, “The clothes are fine, but I’ll just add a jacket~” While I stood there feeling utterly bewildered, he took a jacket from the wall hook and handed it to me. I slipped it on and followed him to the chair. It had been so long since my last ID photo that sitting in front of the camera felt far more nerve-wracking than I expected. The photographer lowered the gray backdrop and gently brushed stray hairs from my face with his fingertips.
“Chin down just slightly, eyes on the lens. And don’t be too tense. You’re going to look incredibly beautiful.”
The photographer spoke from behind the camera. Beautiful. The word still felt foreign. I exhaled slowly. My face reflected faintly in the lens looked gentle and neatly composed, exactly like a fresh-faced new graduate entering the world.
He adjusted the angle, clicked the shutter several times, then moved to the monitor.
“This one seems the prettiest. What do you think?”
The photographer turned the monitor toward me, revealing the photos. Staring at my motionless face on the screen stirred an odd sensation. Because it was still, it truly felt like looking at a stranger. It was strangely fascinating.
“Kids these days always ask for heavy editing, but there’s nothing here that needs fixing. Just cleaning up the fine hairs will be enough to make it perfect.”
“Ah… yes…”
So even ID photos get retouched now… I thought, watching the photographer work at astonishing speed to tidy every stray strand.
“If it’s all right with you… could we display one in the studio?”
“My ID photo?”
“Yes. I won’t charge you for it.”
I considered it for a moment, then answered.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
I agreed because every bit of savings mattered now, and the photographer smiled at me with genuine gratitude.
“The prints will be ready in about ten minutes. Would you like anything to drink while you wait?”
“No, thank you. I’m all right.”
ID card. The words struck my chest like a blow. Soon the face on that monitor would appear on every official document I possessed. I sat there in a daze and glanced at the clock. It was already nearing nine, and the air felt a little warmer.
“With a face like this, you could debut as an idol, you know?”
The photographer handed me the finished prints with a playful grin.
“I wish that were true.”
My lips stiffened into a shape that might have been a smile or the start of tears. I slipped one photo into the ID issuance paperwork and left the studio.
I should head to the company first…
With that decision made, I started walking.
It had taken real effort to get this far. Without a car I had relied on public transportation, where university students kept striking up conversations. Eventually it became too exhausting to keep refusing them, so I began answering with “I have a boyfriend” whenever they approached. By the time I reached the company building, sunlight was spilling across its facade and the revolving door turned at its familiar, steady pace.
I checked my phone one more time, steeled myself, and stepped through the revolving door. Instead of an access card, I clutched the phone containing the message and approached the reception desk.
“Hello, how may I help you?”
“Um… I’m here for a meeting with the HR team today…”
“One moment, please.”
The woman behind the counter looked faintly familiar, yet she clearly did not recognize me.
“Hmm… I don’t see any interviews scheduled for today. May I have your name?”
“It should be listed under Seojun.”
“We do have Team Leader Seojun on the schedule, but the person themselves must appear.”
She clearly could not connect the name with the woman standing in front of her. Of course she couldn’t. Even to my own eyes I looked like an entirely different person.
“I am Seojun. Because of… the illness. Would these documents be acceptable instead?”
I handed her the printed message and the ID issuance paperwork.
“One moment. I’ll contact the head of HR.”
The receptionist read the documents carefully, then lifted the phone.
“Yes… ten o’clock, Seojun? Seoyeon? Yes, team leader… I understand.”
While muffled voices drifted from the receiver, I felt every gaze in the lobby converge on me. The space that had once been so ordinary now felt completely foreign. The moment stretched like eternity until the receptionist’s voice brought me back.
“It’s confirmed. Here is your temporary visitor pass.”
TEMPORARY VISITOR PASS
Name: Seoyeon (formerly Seojun)
Purpose: HR Meeting
Valid for today only
I hung the pass around my neck. The back of my neck burned. The employee ID that had once hung there as a matter of course was now replaced by a label that read “outsider.” The discomfort was immediate.
“The elevators are over there,” the receptionist said, pointing.
HR was on the twelfth floor. I pressed the button and watched the glowing numbers rise. During the ascent I caught my reflection in the mirrored doors. There was nothing left that would make anyone think of me as “Team Leader Seojun.”
Ding—
When the doors opened on the twelfth floor, a familiar hallway greeted me. The familiarity lasted only seconds. Outside the conference room stood the HR team leader, who must have come straight after the call. His eyes swept over me—curiosity, caution, and a trace of pity.
“Se…ojun—no, Miss Seoyeon, correct?”
“Yes…”
He opened the conference room door and spoke with careful restraint.
“…I’ve been briefed on the situation. It’s truly unfortunate… but I assume you already know you’ve been placed on the restructuring list.”
“…”
“Your performance was excellent, but from the company’s standpoint you’ve been absent for nearly ten days. Under normal circumstances we might have overlooked it, but right now the company is struggling… I’m very sorry.”
He continued quickly. I already understood. No matter the reason, the company could not keep an employee absent for over a week during difficult times. Even if I returned, my team would never see me as their leader again. Dissolution would have been inevitable.
“…Miss Seoyeon?”
“Yes. I’m listening.”
“Therefore the company will provide severance pay and a small consolation allowance.”
I lowered my gaze. A document folder lay on the desk. On the white paper the words Letter of Resignation stood out in cold black letters, as though my fate had been prepared in advance.
Due to personal circumstances beyond my control, I hereby resign my position effective immediately.
The company will issue severance pay and a consolation allowance in accordance with company policy.
All internal access rights will be revoked as of today.
Reason for resignation: TS Syndrome diagnosis and gender transition.
“What about… unpaid leave…”
“…I’m sorry.”
The answer was cold. My fingertips traced the edge of the papers. Everything I had built seemed to have been reduced to these few icy sheets.
“Ah…”
When the sigh left me, the team leader hesitated, then bowed his head. He offered me a pen. I took it. The signature I wrote—Seoyeon—was as jagged as my heart.
“…We will process everything today. Severance and the consolation payment will be deposited within a week. All internal privileges will be revoked after today. We will not disclose the exact reason to your team members.”
His words were formal, but after a brief pause he added softly,
“You worked hard all this time.”
I could only bow my head. The team leader left first. I remained alone in the conference room for a long time.
“Haa—”
I let out a heavy breath and stood. Employees moved along the hallway; some faces were familiar. It was nearly lunchtime, so many waited for the elevator. Their glances pressed on me. I avoided their eyes and stood in front of the elevator. The descending numbers seemed to move in slow motion.
Ding—
When the doors opened, several people were already inside. I hid the visitor pass against my chest and stepped in.
On the first floor I returned the pass at reception. The moment the strap left my neck, a strange mixture of liberation and emptiness washed over me.
Outside, sunlight struck my eyes. The warmth felt cold. I stared blankly at the documents in my hand, then began walking again.
“First… I need to submit these…”
As I muttered to myself, my phone rang.
Hello. If you aren't too busy, could we speak for a moment?
The unknown number startled me at first, but I quickly realized who it was. Thinking of what had happened yesterday, I replied.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Seconds after I sent the message, the phone rang. I took a steadying breath and answered.
“Ah, hello. This is Seoyeon, correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
The voice on the other end was cautious, yet clearly strained by yesterday’s events.
“If you have time now, could we meet briefly? What happened yesterday can’t simply be brushed aside. If it’s burdensome, please feel free to refuse.”
His words tightened something in my chest. The scene outside the hospital flashed vividly in my mind again.
“Yes… where should I go?”
“No, I’ll come to you. Where are you?”
“I’m near Dalle Café by Pangyo Station.”
“I should be there in about ten minutes. I’ll head over right away.”
The call ended. I stared at the darkened screen, hiding the small flutter of anticipation that had risen inside me.