A high school in Jeju Island mobilized its students to cheer for a soccer game, leading to an investigation by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. The commission stated that "a culture of voluntary cheering must be established," emphasizing that students should be guaranteed the option not to participate if they do not wish to cheer.
According to the human rights commission on the 3rd, a student surnamed Jeong, who was a second-year student at Seogwipo High School last year, filed a complaint with the commission, stating that while the student council publicly claimed that cheering practice and participation on the day of the game were not mandatory, the atmosphere was actually coercively participatory.
Since 1971, the 'Baekho-gi' soccer tournament, which involves elementary, middle, and high schools, has been held annually, organized by local media in Jeju Province. The Jeju Provincial Office of Education co-sponsors the event. Five high schools, including Daegi High School, Seogwipo High School, Ohyun High School, Jeju Central High School, and Jeju Jeil High School, participate in the high school division. Mass games, such as card games organized by students from each school, are famous.
Jeong reported that during cheering practice, student council leaders shouted at students, saying, "Look at your voices," "Did you learn this correctly?" "Isn't this funny?" "Aren't you doing the hand gestures properly?" He added, "They see students as cheering tools rather than as individuals." He also claimed that teachers at School B responded to and encouraged such situations.
Jeong also stated that it was not mandatory for all students to participate in cheering. According to him, the school brought all students to the stadium by bus, and afterward, participants in cheering were returned by bus, while the school told non-participants to use public transportation to return home.
After critical articles about the cheering at the soccer tournament were published in the media, Jeong stated that members of the student council posted personal attacks against him on social media. He reported this to the school, but claimed that Seogwipo High School turned a blind eye. Jeong dropped out of the school in April last year.
In the investigation, the school stated, "All students attended the cheering practice," but noted, "Participation in cheering on the day of the game was contingent upon student and parental consent, and about 50% of students participated on the weekend when the games were held." The school also claimed that it did not create the 'coercive atmosphere for participation in cheering' as alleged by Jeong.
According to the Jeju Provincial Office of Education, the participation rate of Seogwipo High School in cheering practice for 2023 and 2024 is 72.2%, while the participation rate for cheering at the games is 64.9%. Compared to the other four high schools, it was neither particularly high nor low, falling in the middle range.
The human rights commission concluded that it is difficult to view Seogwipo High School as having enforced participation in cheering, and that the increase in volume from the student council leaders toward the students does not rise to the level of human rights violations. The claim that students who did not participate in the cheering were not provided with return transportation was deemed to lack objective evidence.
However, the commission stated, "Cheering such as card sections is no longer recognized as a universal cultural form in our society," adding that it is necessary to develop a cheering culture that minimizes coerciveness and collectiveness, allowing all students to enjoy.
It also expressed the opinion that Seogwipo High School and the Jeju Superintendent of Education should establish cheering methods that can foster autonomy and creativity. Additionally, it was suggested that appropriate alternative programs should be provided for students who do not participate in cheering.