A South Korean official has been expelled from the party for suggesting the country should “import young women” from Vietnam or Sri Lanka to help boost birth rates.Kim Hee-soo, the head of Jindo County in the south of the country, made the remarks during a televised town hall last week, saying the women could marry “young men from rural areas.” The comments caused an uproar and triggered diplomatic protests from Vietnam.South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates in the world and its population of 50 million could be halved within 60 years. Officials in rural areas are facing shrinking populations and have been exploring options such as administrative mergers between provinces and nearby cities, a main topic of Kim’s city hall speech.Kim Jong Un’s attempt to quell the backlash with an apology a day after the town hall meeting also failed. He admitted the language he used was “inappropriate” but said his comments were intended to help address demographic issues in rural areas, the BBC reported. A spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party confirmed on Monday that the Supreme Council voted unanimously to expel Kim Jong Un. Jeollanam Province also formally apologized for Kim Jong-un’s “inappropriate remarks,” saying they “caused deep pain to Vietnamese people and women,” local media reported.The Vietnamese embassy in Seoul condemned Kim Jong-un’s Facebook comments, saying his remarks were “not just a matter of expression, but an issue of values and attitudes toward immigrant women and minority groups.” Sri Lankan authorities have yet to comment publicly on the controversy.Meanwhile, women’s and immigrant rights activists announced plans to hold a rally in front of Jindo County Hall on Tuesday to protest Kim’s comments.South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with less than one child per woman. With too few babies being born, its population is aging rapidly and is likely to shrink dramatically in the coming decades. Experts warn this could lead to fewer workers and greater social and economic challenges.
