Debates on demographic crisis intensify in South Korea

The issue of increasing the birth rate in South Korea has once again sparked significant public debate. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to the BBC, Jindo County leader Kim Heye-soo spoke at a meeting about “bringing young women from Vietnam or Sri Lanka and marrying them off to young men in rural areas.” This statement was broadcast on television and caused strong public outrage.

The Vietnamese government expressed diplomatic protest on this matter. Within South Korea, the issue was widely discussed for several days.

As a result, Kim was expelled from the ruling Democratic Party. Later, Kim apologized for her words, emphasizing that she intended to draw attention to the demographic problem but admitted that the expressions she used were inappropriate.

South Jeolla Province also issued an official apology, acknowledging that the comment caused pain to Vietnamese people and women. The Vietnamese embassy regarded this statement as an inappropriate attitude towards migrant women and minorities.

Sri Lankan officials have not yet commented on the matter. The meeting was originally convened to discuss the integration of a rural area with a declining population with a nearby city.

Experts believe that if the situation does not change, South Korea’s population of 50 million could shrink by half within the next 60 years.