Overview
- Party officials said the Supreme Council held an emergency session on Monday and unanimously voted to expel Kim Hee-soo.
- The Vietnamese Embassy sent formal letters to the province and county offices condemning the language as demeaning to Vietnamese women and potentially harmful to bilateral ties.
- South Jeolla authorities issued a public apology to Vietnam and pledged stronger human-rights, gender-sensitivity and multicultural education plus tighter internal checks.
- Kim made the remarks at a Feb. 4 town hall on Gwangju–South Jeolla integration, suggesting Korea should "import young virgins" from Sri Lanka or Vietnam to marry rural bachelors.
- A separate local report said Kim cursed at a resident during an open meeting on Monday, drawing further criticism of his conduct.