Sri Lanka, Feb. 9 -- A South Korean official who suggested the country "import young women" from "Vietnam or Sri Lanka" to boost its birth-rate has been expelled from his party.

Kim Hee-soo, the head of the southern Jindo County, said the woman could be married off to "young men in rural areas" during a town hall last week.

The suggestion comes as South Korea continues to grapple with the lowest birth-rates in the world, which could see the country's 50 million-strong population drop by half in 60 years.

But Kim's statement, which was televised, did not go down well - triggering a diplomatic protest from Vietnam, days of public anger and his expulsion from the ruling Democratic Party.

Attempts by Kim to defuse the outrage with an apol...