Social elites gone wild

Prominent human rights activist Go Eun-tae of Joongbu University found himself in hot water for making gratuitous sexual advances at a female fan of his work. Go served as the first Korean national on the international commission of Amnesty International. Impressed by his lecture, a woman in her 20s struck up communication with Go on mobile messaging platform KakaoTalk.

She claimed that after some time the conversation turned lewd, with the professor beseeching to see her naked body and have a perverted relationship. After her accusation went viral on the Internet, Amnesty International said that it was mulling punitive actions against Go. He displayed the ugly two-face of an intellectual who advocated for civilian and human rights on one hand while making salacious attempts toward the opposite sex on the other.

We have been appalled by the reports of scandalous sex parties hosted by a construction businessman for elite bureaucrats and social figures. The guests to the alcohol-fueled wild parties included a number of top government officials, law enforcement authorities and the head of a university hospital. Citizens were shocked by the obscene nature of the scenes.

Go’s scandal further exposed the pervasive immorality among the social elite.

The series of obscene incidents go far beyond our normal sexual standards. Exploitation of the opposite sex by use of force, power and money and indecency undermining our traditional moral values constitutes an outright offense to our society. The shameful misbehavior can threaten the very foundation of our society. The debauchery of the elite class that is obliged to set a good examples can spread negative sexual awareness if it is not checked.

Vulgar sexual culture primarily stems from a wrong and outdated perception on sex. Public awareness on the role of sex has changed greatly, but some of the male elite population still retains chauvinistic arrogance toward the opposite sex and penchant toward prostitution.

They must be taught that they will pay extra for their misconduct through disgrace and criminal penalties. The female victim who received harassment from Go reportedly asked him, “Don’t you have a daughter my age? You should be ashamed.” The social elites should examine themselves again and refine their morality and values befitting their status.