DP Expels Jindo Governor Over 'Import Virgin Women from Sri Lanka and Vietnam' Remark

Park Suhyun, Senior Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press briefing on current issues at the National Assembly on the 8th. Yonhap News

The Democratic Party of Korea has expelled Jindo County Governor Kim Heesoo, who sparked social and diplomatic controversy with his remark, "Let's import virgin women from Sri Lanka and Vietnam."

Park Suhyun, Senior Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with reporters on the 9th and said, "An emergency disciplinary action has been taken against one party member due to a serious disciplinary cause," adding, "The person subject to discipline is Jindo County Governor Kim Heesoo."

The Democratic Party of Korea unanimously decided to expel Governor Kim at a closed Supreme Council meeting held that day. The reason for the disciplinary action was that Governor Kim caused a stir by making disparaging remarks about foreign women during a live broadcast of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Town Hall Meeting on the 4th.

On the 4th, at the "On-site Town Hall Meeting on Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration" held at the Haenam Culture and Arts Center, Governor Kim argued, "When Gwangju and Jeonnam are integrated, if we cannot fully address population extinction through legislation, we should import young virgin women from Sri Lanka or Vietnam so that rural bachelors can get married."

After this remark drew strong criticism from women's organizations, migrant groups, and the embassies concerned, Governor Kim and Jeollanam-do Province each issued a written apology on the 5th and 7th, respectively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.