Korean history instructor Choi Tae-sung expressed regret over the so-called "Starbucks cheer song" controversy involving Paichai High School's baseball team.
On the 1st, Choi posted three photos related to Paichai Hakdang, the predecessor of Paichai High School, on his social media (SNS). The photos showed a full view of Paichai Hakdang, its founder, American missionary Henry Appenzeller, and a stone slab engraved with the school motto. The slab read, "If you wish to be great, serve others."
In the post, Choi wrote, "Appenzeller's Paichai Hakdang, which opened the preface to modern scholarship in our country. What this school put forward was service."
He added, "Watching what is happening these days, those of us in the older generation, myself included, should seriously consider where education in the Republic of Korea is headed," and said, "I am so ashamed of myself."
The controversy erupted on the 29th at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, during the 81st Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship. During the game, Paichai High School players chanted a cheer that went, "We're going, we're going, we're going to Starbucks." Some players were also said to have shouted, "Tank Day!"
The chant drew criticism that it evoked last month's controversy over Starbucks Korea's "May 18 Tank Day" event. Earlier, Starbucks had used phrases such as "Tank Day" and "Tap on the desk" as marketing copy, and faced backlash for making light of the May 18 Democratization Movement and the torture and death of activist Park Jong-cheol.
Afterward, criticism spread that the Paichai High School baseball team's cheer went beyond simple support and mocked social tragedies.
As the backlash grew, the Korea Baseball Softball Association convened an emergency Sports Fairness Committee on the 1st to review the matter. The association handed Paichai High School's baseball team a six-month suspension from competitions. Whether to discipline the coach and individual players will be discussed separately.