Paichai High School's baseball team, which sparked controversy with a cheer that mocked the May 18 Democratization Movement, is reportedly proceeding with disciplinary procedures for two students involved.
Rep. Kang Kyung-sook of the National Assembly Education Committee from the Rebuilding Korea Party said on the 2nd that "Paichai High School decided to refer the two students who led the problematic cheer to the Life Education Committee." This is based on the "Paichai High School baseball team on-site inspection results report" that Kang received from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
According to the report, a second-year student at Paichai High School, identified as student A, led a chant saying "We should go to Starbucks" at the top of the eighth inning of the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship game against Gwangju Jeil High School held at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on June 29. Other students then joined in, and student B said "Tank Day."
Afterward, a Gwangju Jeil High School coach protested to the umpire over the students' chants. At the time, Paichai High School's head coach reportedly did not directly hear the chants. During the changeover between offense and defense, the coach confirmed the content of the protest in the dugout and then admonished the students. After the game, the Paichai coaching staff also visited the Gwangju Jeil dugout to apologize.
However, as the controversy grew, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education conducted an on-site inspection of Paichai High School. The school is also reviewing referring additional students who joined in, beyond the two, to the Life Education Committee.
That day, Rep. Kang held a press conference with the Teachers' Union Confederation and the Seoul Teachers' Union and said, "We condemn the deeply deplorable 'historical mockery' incident that occurred at a sports venue where teenagers pursue their dreams."