A local official in South Korea recently suggested importing ‘virgins’ from countries like Vietnam or Sri Lanka to solve the declining population issue, triggering a serious diplomatic incident. The Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea has formally protested to the Korean side and expressed strong dissatisfaction.
According to media reports, South Korea's birth rate continues to hit record lows. Some forecasts estimate that, at the current pace, by the end of this century, South Korea’s population will shrink by nearly half, falling to 26.8 million.
On the 4th of this month, Kim Hee-su, the governor of Jindo County in South Jeolla Province, stated at a roundtable discussing the population crisis that, in the face of the risk of a demographic cliff, the government should take special measures. He declared: “We should implement special measures, such as ‘importing virgins’ from Vietnam or Sri Lanka and having them marry young men in rural areas.”
Kim Hee-su’s remarks immediately drew strong condemnation from attendees and Korean public opinion.
Vietnamese Embassy Protests
Due to Kim’s use of terms like “import” and “virgins” to refer to foreign women, the Vietnamese government expressed grave dissatisfaction. The Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul has formally lodged a protest with the Korean side, stating that the remarks have seriously hurt the feelings of the Vietnamese people and the dignity of women.
The South Jeolla provincial government spokesperson then issued a statement in response, admitting that the governor’s comments “seriously infringed on personal dignity, objectified women, and cannot be justified under any circumstances,” and issued a sincere apology to the Vietnamese people and all women.
Kim Hee-su subsequently also made a personal statement of apology, admitting to having used “vulgar and inappropriate language,” and said his original intention was to discuss institutional measures to address rural decline.