By Park Si-soo
A senior education ministry official was dismissed days after he stirred public uproar with remarks describing the public as "dogs and pigs" and voicing the need to adopt a caste system.
Vice Education Minister Lee Young on Tuesday announced the dismissal of Na Hyang-wook, director general of the ministry's policy planning bureau.
"We've decided to dismiss Lee to make him responsible for making inappropriate remarks that have severely dented the reputation of public servants and left a big scar on people's minds," Lee said. He said an internal investigation is ongoing, adding the issue will be referred to a disciplinary committee that meets Wednesday.
Na made the controversial remarks during a dinner meeting with editors and reporters from progressive newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun last week. During the meeting, the official, who claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol, described the public as nothing but "dogs and pigs." He also voiced the need to "consolidate the class system because people are not all born equal."
Regarding public mourning over the death of a subcontract worker, 19, who was killed by a train while repairing screen doors, he said people acting as if their own children were dead were "hypocritical."
Na was summoned to a parliamentary meeting on Monday, during which he received a barrage of criticism and pressure for resignation from the ruling and opposition parties.
A senior education ministry official was dismissed days after he stirred public uproar with remarks describing the public as "dogs and pigs" and voicing the need to adopt a caste system.
Vice Education Minister Lee Young on Tuesday announced the dismissal of Na Hyang-wook, director general of the ministry's policy planning bureau.
"We've decided to dismiss Lee to make him responsible for making inappropriate remarks that have severely dented the reputation of public servants and left a big scar on people's minds," Lee said. He said an internal investigation is ongoing, adding the issue will be referred to a disciplinary committee that meets Wednesday.
Na made the controversial remarks during a dinner meeting with editors and reporters from progressive newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun last week. During the meeting, the official, who claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol, described the public as nothing but "dogs and pigs." He also voiced the need to "consolidate the class system because people are not all born equal."
Regarding public mourning over the death of a subcontract worker, 19, who was killed by a train while repairing screen doors, he said people acting as if their own children were dead were "hypocritical."
Na was summoned to a parliamentary meeting on Monday, during which he received a barrage of criticism and pressure for resignation from the ruling and opposition parties.
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