A senior South Korean education official has been sacked after he referred to people as “dogs” and “pigs” and called for the institution of a caste system.

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.

[Korea Times]

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