The Korea Baseball Softball Association has begun disciplinary proceedings over an incident in which Baejae High School's baseball team mocked Gwangju Jeil High School during a game at the Cheongryonggi national high school baseball championship.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association secretariat said on the 30th that it will convene the Sports Fairness Committee and take necessary measures under the relevant regulations. The Sports Fairness Committee is scheduled to meet on July 1.
Article 25 of the Korea Baseball Softball Association Sports Fairness Committee regulations lists causing serious damage to the dignity of athletes or social controversy as grounds for discipline. The association will review at the Sports Fairness Committee whether this case falls under those grounds. The subjects and level of discipline will be decided after the investigation results and the committee's deliberation.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association said, "We are comprehensively checking the circumstances and statements related to the incident and investigating the facts," and added, "We will do our utmost in tournament operations and maintaining order at stadiums to prevent similar cases from recurring."
The controversy arose during the game between Baejae High School and Gwangju Jeil High School at the 81st Cheongryonggi national high school baseball championship and weekend league champions tournament held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul the previous day. Baejae High School players repeatedly shouted chants toward Gwangju Jeil High School players such as "You should go, you should go~ You should go to SBUX (Starbucks)~."
The chant was interpreted as alluding to Starbucks' May 18 Tank Day promotion controversy, and criticism poured in that it disparaged the region and the pro-democracy movement.
Gwangju Jeil High School, after protesting on site, also asked the Korea Baseball Softball Association for disciplinary action and measures to prevent a recurrence.