A senior South Korean local official has come under fire after making a controversial remark referencing Sri Lankan women while discussing ways to address population decline in rural areas.
Kim Hee-soo, the Governor of Jindo County, sparked outrage after suggesting the idea of “importing Sri Lankan and Vietnamese virgins” during a public town hall meeting in South Jeolla Province.
The comment was made while officials and residents were discussing a proposed administrative merger of nine cities and counties in the province with Gwangju, amid concerns over severe population decline in rural regions.
The remarks, which were broadcast live, triggered immediate backlash in South Korea, with critics condemning them as inappropriate, sexist and demeaning, particularly towards women from Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Social media users and civic groups accused the governor of objectifying foreign women and trivialising serious demographic challenges.
Following the public outcry, Kim Hee-soo issued an apology, admitting that his wording was wrong and stating that he did not intend to insult any country or community. He said his remarks were meant to broadly refer to the challenges of attracting young people to rural areas, but acknowledged that his comments were inappropriate.
South Korea is currently facing one of the world’s lowest birth rates, with rural provinces experiencing rapid population ageing and youth migration to major cities. While authorities continue to debate policy responses, the governor’s remarks have drawn attention for the language used rather than the issue itself. (Newswire)