South Korean Official's Proposal on Importing Young Women Sparks Controversy

A proposal by Kim Hee-soo, the governor of Jindo County in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, to 'import' young women from Southeast Asia to address the country's low birth rate has sparked significant backlash. According to Ming Pao, the suggestion has been condemned by South Korean media and has led to diplomatic tensions, with the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul lodging a formal protest. In response to the controversy, the South Jeolla provincial government issued an apology last Saturday. On Monday, Kim Hee-soo was expelled from the Democratic Party of Korea following a vote by the party's highest committee.