KUALA LUMPUR - Jindo Governor, Kim Hee Su sparked public anger after making controversial remarks about importing young foreign women to address population decline in South Jeolla Province.

He made the comments during a town hall meeting of South Jeolla regional leaders held last Wednesday at the Haenam Culture and Arts Center in Haenam.

The meeting focused on the planned administrative integration of South Jeolla Province and Gwangju, during which Kim urged authorities to pass laws to tackle the shrinking population.

“If it comes to it, we should import young women from Sri Lanka or Vietnam for young men in rural regions to marry, or come up with other solutions. What good is revitalizing the industry if there are no people?” he said.

The remarks immediately drew complaints from more than 15,000 viewers watching the event through a YouTube livestream, as well as from participants at the meeting.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung criticized the remarks, calling them insensitive and out of place, after recently finalizing an integration agreement with South Jeolla Governor Kim Yung-rok.

“I think the comment about marriage and the importing of foreigners was inappropriate,” Kang said.

Kang and Governor Kim were among regional leaders who attended the event and answered questions from about 100 residents.

South Jeolla Province is scheduled to hold three more town hall meetings, with the final session set for February 13 to gather public feedback on the integration plan.

Population decline outside the Greater Seoul area, which includes Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, remains a serious national concern.

According to November data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 13 cities and counties in North and South Jeolla Provinces are considered at high risk of disappearing due to population loss.