On 6/2, the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea announced it had sent an official letter to the Office of the Governor of Jeolla Nam Province and the Office of the Jindo District Chairman, also in Jeolla Nam Province. This communication addressed recent remarks made by a district-level official concerning Vietnamese women, which the embassy deemed "offensive and inappropriate."

The controversy stems from comments made by Jindo District Chairman Kim Hee-soo during a forum on the merger of Gwangju and Jeolla Nam provinces on 4/2. Discussing South Korea's declining population, Mr. Kim highlighted that 20% of the 89 regions nationwide facing "population extinction" are located in Jeolla Nam Province. He proposed a solution: "When merging, we should simultaneously develop countermeasures. We should import young women from places like Sri Lanka or Vietnam to marry single men in rural areas, and then implement special policies."

Mr. Kim's remarks, broadcast live on YouTube, sparked immediate outrage within the Vietnamese community in South Korea. Many criticized his statements, calling them "too far" and insensitive to multicultural communities, human rights, and gender.

Jindo District Chairman Kim Hee-soo. Photo: Chosun Daily

Following the public outcry, Mr. Kim issued an apology on the same day. He clarified that his comments aimed to emphasize the severe issue of population decline and acknowledged using the word "import" inappropriately. He asserted he had no intention of offending any country or individual. "I apologize to those who may have been hurt by these comments," he said.

The Vietnamese Embassy's official letter, issued in Vietnamese, English, and Korean, underscored the importance of respecting the dignity and honor of all citizens, particularly women. The embassy affirmed that such respect represents a "shared value, asset, and principle of Vietnam and South Korea." It further stated that "offensive, inappropriate, and unsuitable language, such as the phrase 'importing Vietnamese women,' needs to be taken seriously, understood for its true nature, and rectified with a constructive spirit."

According to the embassy, Vietnamese people residing in South Korea consider Jeolla Nam Province an ideal place to live, valuing its long-standing traditions of tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect. The Vietnamese Women's Union in South Korea reports that 181,436 foreign marriage immigrants are currently registered as residents, with 41,779 identified as Vietnamese brides. This figure surpasses 100,000 when naturalized citizens are included.

Duc Trung