By Chung Hyun-chae
The Ministry of Education suspended a ranking official Saturday for making derogatory remarks describing the public as "dogs and pigs."
The suspension came immediately after local daily Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Na Hyang-wook, 47, director general of the ministry's policy planning bureau, said that the public are nothing but "dogs and pigs."
Na was also quoted as saying during a dinner meeting with reporters on Thursday that the nation should "consolidate the class system because people are not all born equal."
Asked how he felt about a Guui Station accident in which a 19-year-old subcontract worker was killed by a train while repairing screen doors, he said that people acting as if their own children were dead were hypocritical.
The ministry explained that Na put his foot in his mouth by drinking too much.
"We placed Na on the suspended list after we concluded that he caused a problem," an education official said. "After conducting an investigation into how it happened, we will take further action against him."
In general, the order of placement on the suspended list may lead to disciplinary proceedings.
"Na deeply regrets what he said under the influence of alcohol," Park Jun-seong, deputy director of the bureau, told The Korea Times.
"I am so sorry that a moment's mistake determined his life even though he has also done many great deeds," he added.
Na's reckless remarks, which were recorded by Kyunghyang reporters and were carried in the newspaper, enraged people from various fields.
"He cannot get away with a slip of the tongue by saying he'd been drinking," an Internet user wrote on a portal site.
"Today I realized that ‘breeding' is the duty of the general director of the policy planning bureau at the education ministry," said a 28-year-old office worker who declined to be named. "The incident shows how important personality development is."
A number of education groups also criticized Na's improper remarks.
"Na did something he should not have done as a high-ranking government official," said a member of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, adding that the education ministry should take appropriate action against him.
"The minister should apologize to the public and reprimand the controversial figure," a member of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The minor opposition People's Party even called for Na's dismissal.
Na passed the civil service examination and served as the education minister's secretary and a Cheong Wa Dae official. He was promoted to the current position in March.
The Ministry of Education suspended a ranking official Saturday for making derogatory remarks describing the public as "dogs and pigs."
The suspension came immediately after local daily Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Na Hyang-wook, 47, director general of the ministry's policy planning bureau, said that the public are nothing but "dogs and pigs."
Na was also quoted as saying during a dinner meeting with reporters on Thursday that the nation should "consolidate the class system because people are not all born equal."
Asked how he felt about a Guui Station accident in which a 19-year-old subcontract worker was killed by a train while repairing screen doors, he said that people acting as if their own children were dead were hypocritical.
The ministry explained that Na put his foot in his mouth by drinking too much.
"We placed Na on the suspended list after we concluded that he caused a problem," an education official said. "After conducting an investigation into how it happened, we will take further action against him."
In general, the order of placement on the suspended list may lead to disciplinary proceedings.
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"Na deeply regrets what he said under the influence of alcohol," Park Jun-seong, deputy director of the bureau, told The Korea Times.
"I am so sorry that a moment's mistake determined his life even though he has also done many great deeds," he added.
Na's reckless remarks, which were recorded by Kyunghyang reporters and were carried in the newspaper, enraged people from various fields.
"He cannot get away with a slip of the tongue by saying he'd been drinking," an Internet user wrote on a portal site.
"Today I realized that ‘breeding' is the duty of the general director of the policy planning bureau at the education ministry," said a 28-year-old office worker who declined to be named. "The incident shows how important personality development is."
A number of education groups also criticized Na's improper remarks.
"Na did something he should not have done as a high-ranking government official," said a member of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, adding that the education ministry should take appropriate action against him.
"The minister should apologize to the public and reprimand the controversial figure," a member of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The minor opposition People's Party even called for Na's dismissal.
Na passed the civil service examination and served as the education minister's secretary and a Cheong Wa Dae official. He was promoted to the current position in March.
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