South Korean Official Expelled After Suggesting Importing Brides from Vietnam or Sri Lanka to Combat Low Birth Rate

Birth rates in South Korea have been declining in recent years. Amid this trend, a local official has caused an uproar by suggesting that the declining birth rate could be addressed by 'importing young women from Vietnam or Sri Lanka to marry rural men.' The official who made such a remark has even been expelled from the ruling party.

Kim Hee-soo, the head of the southern Jindo County, made this proposal last week during a public town hall meeting. He suggested measures to marry off foreign women because men in rural areas were remaining unmarried.

After his statement was broadcast on state television, it faced intense criticism. Following his remarks, Vietnam issued a diplomatic protest, and widespread outrage erupted in South Korea. Ultimately, the ruling Democratic Party expelled him.

Kim apologized the next day, claiming he only intended to highlight the rural population crisis. He admitted that the language he used was inappropriate. However, his apology failed to quell the controversy. The South Jeolla Provincial Government also formally apologized, stating that his comments deeply hurt the Vietnamese people and women.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul issued a statement via Facebook, calling Kim's remarks not just an expression but a question of 'wrong values and attitudes towards immigrant women and minorities.' Sri Lanka has not yet issued a formal response in this matter.

Meanwhile, women's and immigrant rights activists are preparing to protest in front of the Jindo County office on Tuesday. South Korea's birth rate has reached the lowest level in the world. Due to this, warnings have been issued that the current population of 50 million could halve in the next 60 years.