Expulsion follows uproar over birth-rate suggestion

A South Korean official, Kim Hee-soo, faced expulsion from the ruling Democratic Party after proposing "importing young women" from countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka to boost birth rates. His comments, made during a town hall, sparked widespread anger and a diplomatic protest from Vietnam.

Kim suggested these women could marry young men in rural areas, as South Korea struggles with one of the world’s lowest birth rates. The statement was televised, leading to days of public outrage.

Despite issuing an apology, Kim's attempts to quell the backlash failed. He claimed his comment aimed to address population issues in rural regions but admitted it was "inappropriate."

South Jeolla Province publicly apologized, acknowledging the pain caused to Vietnamese people and women. The Vietnamese Embassy condemned the remarks as offensive to migrant women and minority groups.

The Democratic Party’s Supreme Council voted unanimously to expel Kim. Women and migrant rights activists plan to rally against his comments, highlighting ongoing tensions over values and attitudes towards minority groups.

Key Takeaways

• South Korean official expelled over controversial remarks.

• Comments sparked diplomatic protest from Vietnam.

• Activists plan to rally in response to the remarks.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Source 2026-01-31

 

 

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46 minutes ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

Democratic Party after proposing "importing young women" from countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka to boost birth rates. His comments

Australia should import young women from Thailand to boost birth rates.

It's a struggle getting a erection with Aussie chicks.

It's already happening. Older men in rural S. Korea have few options. Many with the money have gone to Vietnam and imported a wife. Of course the Vietnamese woman had no idea what they getting into. The new bride from Vietnam upon arrival learned she had to take care of the husband's ageing parents. Of course the new bride can't speak Korean or even cook Korean food. Why is there outrage when the Vietnamese government has been aware of "found a wife holidays" from middle aged Korean men have been going on for years.

I was surprised to read this as I thought that South Korea was a place where Western couples went to adopt babies.

Regardless, this is a pretty pathetic was of fixing that country’s low birth rate. Treating foreign women from SE Asia as a demographic solution rather than introducing domestic policies that encourage people in South Korea to want to have more children.

Imagine if a politician from a Western country suggested that!

10 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

I was surprised to read this as I thought that South Korea was a place where Western couples went to adopt babies.

Regardless, this is a pretty pathetic was of fixing that country’s low birth rate. Treating foreign women from SE Asia as a demographic solution rather than introducing domestic policies that encourage people in South Korea to want to have more children.

Imagine if a politician from a Western country suggested that!

Exactly! Some Western politicians only import them for fun and then send them back.

56 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

I was surprised to read this as I thought that South Korea was a place where Western couples went to adopt babies.

Regardless, this is a pretty pathetic was of fixing that country’s low birth rate. Treating foreign women from SE Asia as a demographic solution rather than introducing domestic policies that encourage people in South Korea to want to have more children.

Imagine if a politician from a Western country suggested that!

Stopped in the 90’s!

Women from Sri Lanka too? Why miss out on African countries? Once the shape and color of Korean babies changes there will be less racism.

Korean farmers have been bringing wives from Vietnam for years. There are Cupid services that specialize in match making, none of it is forced, the ladies sign up for the service and the Korean men pay for the service. They travel to Vietnam, meet the ladies and go on dates to see if they are compatible.

Korean women refuse to live in the rural farm lands, they all want to be city girls.

I lived and worked there for 23 years, this is very common place. I am surprised the Korean media is making such a big deal what has been fact. There are also many women from Mongolia and Russian Korean descent ladies from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

I went to Seoul a few months ago. There was certainly no shortage of very attractive young Korean women (didn't notice the guys so can't comment 😉). A low birth rate can't be to do with a shortage of potential parents, it must be other things. There are similar issues in Japan and China to name but two.

What @Soondae says looks spot on to me. And, having chatted to a couple of Chinese women recently, is very similar in China. And funnily enough is ever so similar to events in some parts of the western world where rural populations moved to cities for personal wealth and status reasons. It'd be quite the change to reverse this.

Low birth rates are the biggest threat to humanity and very few people are even aware of the problem.

Watch these and you might start be get scared about humanity disappearing.

Specific to South Korea https://youtu.be/Ufmu1WD2TSk?si=XT4zDV15VZVYDbKV

Award winning documentary about declining birth rates - https://youtu.be/m2GeVG0XYTc?si=Nqtt7pt_nr9xAWzE

Why the faux outrage? Seems logical to import specific groups that are required.

Better than the UK. We import young men of fighting age to terrorize the local communities and claim benefits with absolutely no upside for the country.

34 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Why the faux outrage? Seems logical to import specific groups that are required.

Better than the UK. We import young men of fighting age to terrorize the local communities and claim benefits with absolutely no upside for the country.

I don't think they are being 'imported',its more like they are invading and nobody is attempting to stop them.

Maybe that is just semantics!

Isnt it about how difficult it is to contact and marry in Korea?

Once saw a docu and was flabbergasted about the ways. That was about 10 years ago.

Maybe now more difficult as for media? they want to be free? Too expensive to raise child?

Thailand has a thing, if you arent married by age 25, you are done. and women are concentrating on career.

Japan has also weird way of contacting and girls also dont need to be in relation with kids.

They should have a same like problem as in Korea then?!

Though Japan knows ohitorisama movement, so this could be spreading? It means you live on yourself, by yourself. No husband, no kids , nothing.

I thought it had another name, Ah I see, another group, it is even worse , as they live all by them selves and then even NOT going out their "homes" ! Complete isolation. That is called Hikikomori.

I'm sure lots of foreign women would see Korea as a step up in the world, security for their future and children.

On 2/10/2026 at 10:48 AM, Soondae said:

I lived and worked there for 23 years, this is very common place. I am surprised the Korean media is making such a big deal what has been fact. There are also many women from Mongolia and Russian Korean descent ladies from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

As I understand it, a lot of the outrage is from him specifying "young unmarried women", which can also be interpreted as "virgins" because of the language. You'd probably be able to comment on that?

On 2/9/2026 at 4:01 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Australia should import young women from Thailand to boost birth rates.

It's a struggle getting a erection with Aussie chicks.

We dropped anchor at Perth in the late 70's. The girls were lined up to meet the Yanks. The girls were beautiful, guess times have changed.