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A South Korean official who suggested the country “import young women” from “Vietnam or Sri Lanka” to boost its birth-rate has been expelled from his party.<\/p>\n
Kim Hee-soo, the head of the southern Jindo County, said the woman could be married off to “young men in rural areas” during a town hall last week.<\/p>\n
The suggestion comes as South Korea continues to grapple with the lowest birth-rates in the world, which could see the country’s 50 million-strong population drop by half in 60 years.<\/p>\n
But Kim’s statement, which was televised, did not go down well – triggering a diplomatic protest from Vietnam, days of public anger and his expulsion from the ruling Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Attempts by Kim to defuse the outrage with an apology a day after the town hall appear to have failed.<\/p>\n
The town hall had been called to discuss a potential merger between the province where Jindo County is located and a nearby city – something regions with shrinking populations are looking at for administrative reasons.<\/p>\n
Kim said his comment had been intended to highlight population issues in rural regions but admitted the language he had used was “inappropriate”, local media reported.<\/p>\n
South Jeolla Province also issued a formal apology for Kim’s “inappropriate remarks”, which it said “has caused deep pain to Vietnamese people and to women”, local media reported.<\/p>\n
The Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul had condemned Kim’s remarks, saying in a statement on Facebook that his words were “not simply a matter of expression but a matter of values and attitudes towards migrant women and minority groups”.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka authorities have not publicly addressed the controversy.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Party’s Supreme Council had voted unanimously to expel Kim, a party spokesperson told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, activists for women and migrant rights are reportedly planning to hold a rally in front of Jindo County Office on Tuesday over Kim’s comments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n