At a meeting held last week, Kim mentioned that women could be married off to "young people from rural areas." His comments were part of a discussion on issues related to the demographic situation in the country, where the birth rate remains one of the lowest in the world, which could lead to a halving of South Korea's population over the next 60 years.
The reaction to Kim's words was extremely negative: his statements sparked a diplomatic protest from Vietnam and public discontent, ultimately leading to his expulsion from the party. The apologies Kim offered the next day at city hall failed to quell public outrage.
The meeting at city hall took place in the context of discussions about a possible merger of the Jindo district with a neighboring city, which is a relevant topic for regions with declining populations.
According to Kim, his intention was to draw attention to issues related to the population in rural areas; however, he acknowledged that the wording used was "inappropriate," according to local media reports.
In response to the situation, South Jeolla Province also issued an official apology for Kim's comments, which, according to the authorities, "caused deep pain to the Vietnamese people and women."
The Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul condemned Kim's remarks, emphasizing that they pertain not only to personal opinions but also to deeper issues regarding values and attitudes towards migrant women and minorities.
Sri Lanka has not yet made any official comments on the matter. Meanwhile, it has been reported that activists defending the rights of women and migrants plan to hold a protest outside the Jindo district administration building in response to Kim's statements.
A representative of the Democratic Party stated that the Supreme Council unanimously voted to expel Kim from the party ranks.
