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South Korea’s Ruling Party Expels Jindo County Chief Over ‘Import Women’ Remark

A provincial apology with planned letters to the Vietnamese as well as the Sri Lankan embassies followed the diplomatic complaint.

Overview

  • The Democratic Party’s Supreme Council unanimously voted to remove Kim Hee-su after he proposed bringing in young women from Vietnam or Sri Lanka to marry rural men.
  • Vietnam’s embassy filed an official protest, describing the remarks as offensive and inappropriate.
  • South Jeolla Province apologized, saying the word “import” objectified women and undermined human dignity, and said it would send formal letters to both embassies.
  • Kim issued a personal apology, calling his wording inappropriate and saying he intended to address rural depopulation concerns.
  • Women’s rights and migrant advocacy groups organized a rally at the Jindo-gun Office to condemn the comments and press for accountability.