South Korean official ousted after uproar over remarks on ‘importing women’ to lift birth rate

• The comments of the Jindo County governor about "importing unmarried women" from Sri Lanka or Vietnam have sparked diplomatic backlash.
  
• Women’s, migrant, and civic groups in Korea condemned the remarks as discriminatory, saying they treated immigrant women as tools.
  
• The governor has since been expelled from his political party, and South Jeolla Province has issued a formal apology.

A South Korean official has been expelled from his political party after suggesting the country should “import young women” to boost its declining birth rate.

As reported by local media and the BBC, Kim Hee-soo, governor of Jindo County in South Jeolla Province, said during a live‑streamed town hall last week that South Korea could “import unmarried women from places like Sri Lanka or Vietnam” to marry “young men in rural areas”.

The remarks triggered swift criticism at home and abroad, including a diplomatic protest from Vietnam. The Embassy of Vietnam in Korea sent protest letters to both South Jeolla Province and Jindo County, urging a serious response to the incident.

Kim issued an apology the following day, saying he had intended to highlight population issues in rural regions but acknowledged his language was “inappropriate”.

“I used inappropriate language while trying to stress the need for institutional measures to address depopulation,” he said, as cited by The Korea Times. “I deeply regret causing misunderstanding and discomfort.”

The apology, however, failed to quell public anger. Kim has since been expelled from the ruling Democratic Party, while South Jeolla Province issued a formal apology for his remarks, saying they have “caused deep pain to Vietnamese people and to women”.

Vietnam’s Embassy said Kim’s comments were “not simply a matter of expression but a matter of values and attitudes towards migrant women and minority groups”.

“The remarks have already caused outrage and offense within the Vietnamese community in Korea and continue to generate controversy and concern,” it said, calling for concrete corrective measures and emphasising that “respect for women’s dignity and honor must remain the top priority”.

“We believe that honestly acknowledging the fault and taking concrete corrective action will help build trust and promote healthy social conduct, while further strengthening the Vietnam-Korea comprehensive strategic partnership in the future.”

Sri Lankan authorities have not publicly commented on the controversy, according to BBC reporting.

In South Korea, about 100 women's, migrant, and civic organisations issued a joint statement condemning Kim’s remarks as discriminatory and dehumanising, arguing they framed immigrant women as tools for combating depopulation rather than individuals with agency. Activists for women’s and migrant rights are reportedly planning a rally outside the Jindo County Office.

South Korea has one of the world’s lowest birth rates, with projections suggesting its population of 50mn could halve within 60 years. The government has poured billions of dollars into efforts to boost fertility and stabilise population decline.

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