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Na Hyang-wook, the director of the Education Ministry’s policy-planning office, made the remarks during a dinner with members of the liberal press last week, according to the Korea Times. During the meal, he reportedly compared the Korean public to animals and said that — according to a translation in the Times — that the country needed a caste system “because people are not all born equal.”His comments kicked off a furor and Na was summoned before legislators Monday for a furious dressing down, the Times reports.In announcing Na’s dismissal, Deputy Education Minister Lee Young said that Na had “severely dented the reputation of public servants.”Na said that he made the controversial remarks while intoxicated.
SEOUL, South Korea — By Tuesday, the message board of the South Korean Education Ministry’s website had become a virtual pigsty and dog pen, with commenters venting anger in the form of “Woof! Woof! Oink! Oink!”The messages were an expression of the widespread outrage at a senior education official who had told reporters that the country should put in place a class system in which 99 percent of South Koreans should be treated “like dogs and pigs.”“Hi, I am a South Korean citizen who lives as a dog and pig,” one commenter said. “That may be O.K., but I can’t take it when you say my dear son and daughter should also be treated like a dog or pig.”Another wrote: “If we are dogs and pigs, what does that make you, who live off our taxpayers’ money? Parasites?”
All that would be bad enough. But it came at a time when the divisions within South Korean society are a major theme of public debate.Much of it has centred on the distinction between being born with a gold spoon or a dirt spoon in this stratified society - described by some online as "Hell Korea".
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday said the government will tighten oversight and take swift disciplinary action against civil servants who step out of line following a derogatory remark made by an education ministry official that has stirred public anger."It is hard to give excuses in regards to inappropriate remarks made by civil servants," Hwang said. "These mishaps are weighing down government's credibility and workers' morale."Last week, an education ministry official referred to people as being like "dogs and pigs" while drinking with journalists. After the remark was reported, the ministry decided to sack the official.Hwang added all civil servants must remember that each represents the government, and must be extra careful when making remarks and taking actions.
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Topic: South Korean official fired after calling for "Caste System" (said 99% of his countrymen are like pigs and dogs) (Read 324 times)
