A resonant incident occurred in South Korea involving the remarks of the head of Jindo County, Kim Hee-soo. During a discussion on the demographic crisis, he suggested addressing the birth rate issue by “importing virgins” from Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Local media report that the official stated the need to attract young unmarried women from abroad to help single men start families and increase the birth rate. This phrasing sparked a storm of outrage—many considered it derogatory and discriminatory towards women.
In response to public discontent, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea decided to expel Kim Hee-soo from its ranks. Later, the official apologized, noting that he had used “inappropriate words.”
Human rights and women's organizations also expressed strong criticism of his remarks.
The official embassy of Vietnam in Seoul sent a note of protest, describing the official's words as offensive.
South Korea is facing a serious demographic crisis. According to national statistics, the birth rate in the country is only about 0.75 children per woman, one of the lowest figures in the world. To maintain natural population reproduction, a level of at least 2.1 is necessary.
In recent years, authorities have been trying to address this issue by implementing financial support programs for families, housing subsidies, and measures to balance work and child-rearing. However, achieving sustainable growth in birth rates has not yet been successful.
This scandal has once again raised the question of the limits of public rhetoric and how the state should respond to the threat of depopulation.
