Student baseball players and a teacher from Paejae High School, who sparked controversy by chanting "We should go to Starbucks," said they wanted to visit Gwangju Jeil High School (Gwangjuilgo) to apologize, but Gwangjuilgo refused, saying it was not ready to accept an apology.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 1st, Paejae High School faculty and members of the baseball team, along with students and parents, conveyed their intention to visit Gwangjuilgo in person to apologize. However, Gwangjuilgo requested, "Right now our students are not mentally prepared to accept an apology, so please reconsider today's visit," and the meeting fell through.

On the 29th, during the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship game between Paejae High School and Gwangju Jeil High School, Paejae players dance in the dugout to a cheer that includes the chant "Let's go to Starbucks." /Courtesy of News1

During the first-round game between Paejae High School and Gwangjuilgo in the Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League King of Kings on the 29th, the Paejae baseball team shouted the chant "We should go to Sbux."

At the time, Paejae players had widened the gap late in the game and seized the momentum, and from the dugout they kept chanting, "We should go, we should go, we should go to Starbucks."

One student also shouted "Tank Day," and Gwangjuilgo protested, saying, "Why are you going to Starbucks? We've been holding back for a while."

The umpires also warned Paejae at the time, but as the broadcast clip of the scene spread through online communities, criticism poured in that it was "regional disparagement."

In the school's own inquiry, the student players argued that one team member inserted "Starbucks" into an existing cheer to create an altered chant, and the rest followed along impulsively.

Paejae High School posted an apology on social media (SNS), and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it would investigate. Still, the controversy appears to be spreading, with 5.18-related groups and teachers' associations issuing critical statements.

The Korea Baseball Softball Association is scheduled to convene the Sports Fairness Committee that day to discuss the issue. Article 25 of the Korea Baseball Softball Association Sports Fairness Committee regulations states that disciplinary action may be taken when an athlete seriously damages the dignity of sports or causes social controversy.

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