Regarding the controversy over Paejae High School baseball team's "Starbucks·Tank Day" cheer chant, the Gwangju Ilgo alumni association said a thorough fact-finding investigation and accountability must come first.
The Gwangju Seojung·Ilgo alumni association issued a statement on the 2nd, saying, "Even the Paejae High School alumni association is calling for strong criticism of the hate act and disciplinary action against those responsible," and added, "Paejae High School faculty, students and parents affiliated with the baseball team said they would visit Gwangju Ilgo to apologize, but without a thorough fact-finding investigation and accountability, it cannot be accepted as a sincere apology."
The alumni association also called for responsible action at the school foundation level. The alumni association said, "Despite the Paejae High School alumni association's demand for the principal's resignation, the school foundation is ignoring disciplinary measures such as holding the school leadership to account," and added, "We positively evaluate the Korea Baseball Softball Association's six-month suspension and forfeit rulings against Paejae High School, and we will keep a close watch on whether subsequent procedures are carried out."
However, the alumni association drew a line, saying it does not seek excessive stigmatization or punishment of individual student-athletes. The alumni association noted, "In the United States and Europe, hate speech against specific groups is not dismissed as a mere lapse but regarded as a clear crime, punished severely under a zero-tolerance principle, and it deals a fatal blow to an individual's career," and added, "However, we do not want a single mistake by young students to plunge their lives into ruin."
It continued, "What we want is for them to recognize the wrongdoing, weigh right and wrong correctly, and prevent similar cases from recurring," and explained, "A spur is also needed to put into practice Paejae High School's teaching, 'If you want to be great, serve others.'"
The alumni association stressed that this matter cannot be tied up with a simple apology visit. The alumni association said, "Only when a thorough fact-finding investigation and commensurate accountability clearly come first, and a heartfelt apology is expressed on that basis, can we respond with beautiful harmony and broad tolerance."
Meanwhile, the Korea Baseball Softball Association urgently convened the Sports Fairness Committee on the 1st and decided on a six-month suspension from national tournaments for the Paejae High School baseball team, which chanted a region-disparaging slogan during a game.