Vietnam reacts after district chairman in South Korea demands 'import Vietnamese women'.

Kim Hee Soo, Chairman of Jindo County - Photo: CHOSUN DAILY

Jindo County Chairman Kim Hee Soo, speaking at an official government meeting, said that special measures should be taken regarding population issues, such as "importing young girls from Sri Lanka or Vietnam to marry off to rural youths."

This statement, published in South Korean media over the past two days, has caused a stir in South Korean public opinion and among the Vietnamese community, with criticism that it demonstrates a serious lack of awareness of human rights , multiculturalism, and gender sensitivity.

In a letter sent to the Governor of South Jeolla Province and Jindo County on February 6th, the Vietnamese Embassy stated that for over 30 years, the Government and people of Vietnam have been building a friendly, cooperative, and equal relationship between the two countries and two peoples, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Korea has achieved tremendous results. The Vietnamese community in Korea has made and continues to make extremely important contributions to this process. These are undeniable achievements.

The Vietnamese Embassy emphasized that respect for the dignity and honor of citizens, especially women, is a shared value, asset, and principle of both the Vietnamese and Korean peoples. The Vietnamese government and people acknowledge and highly appreciate the efforts of the Korean government and people in protecting, promoting, and enhancing the dignity of women in general and Vietnamese women in particular.

South Jeolla Province has a long tradition of tolerance, respect, and openness. The Vietnamese community in Korea in general, and in South Jeolla in particular, considers this province a good destination to build a life and realize their dreams.

In this process, respect for and upholding the dignity and honor of women must once again be prioritized. Therefore, offensive language, inappropriate statements, and the use of unsuitable words from anyone, such as the phrase "importing Vietnamese women," are behaviors that need to be seriously considered, understood for what they truly are, and corrected in a constructive spirit.

The Vietnamese Embassy believes that acknowledging mistakes and making corrections through concrete and practical actions will help build trust, promote healthy conduct, and further strengthen the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the future.

On the morning of February 6th, the Joongang Ilbo newspaper reported that Jindo County Chairman Kim Hee Soo apologized for using the word "imported" to describe women from a specific country when discussing the issue of population decline.

Kim Hee Soo explained that the statement was merely intended to highlight the structural issues of severe population decline and the decrease in marriage and birth rates in rural areas.

He asserted that he did not intend to belittle or disrespect any particular country or individual and "apologized to anyone who may have been offended by these remarks."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-phan-ung-sau-khi-chu-tich-huyen-o-han-quoc-doi-nhap-khau-phu-nu-viet-nam-20260206204221762.htm