Students on the Paejae High School baseball team in Seoul, who sparked controversy over disparaging a region by chanting cheers such as "We should go to Starbucks" during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School, visited Gwangju to apologize in person. It was a week after the controversy erupted. Gwangju Jeil High School students said, "Anyone can make a mistake," and accepted the apology.

The principal of Baejae High School visits Gwangju Jeil High School on the 6th and bows in apology over the controversy surrounding mockery of the May 18 Democratization Movement during cheering. /Courtesy of News1
On the afternoon of the 1st, his first day in office, Superintendent Kim Dae-jung visits Gwangju Jeil High School to console the baseball team hurt by regional slurs from opposing Baejae High School supporters during a recent national tournament game and to deliver encouragement funds to improve training facilities. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 6th, all 36 Paejae High baseball team members, some parents, and faculty, 86 people in total, visited Gwangju Jeil High School at about 3 p.m. that day. They bowed their heads to the affected students and parents, and to Gwangju residents.

Team captain A of Paejae High's baseball team read a letter of apology and said, "It must have been uncomfortable just for us to set foot in Gwangju, but we thank Gwangju Jeil High School for making time for us."

A added, "We sincerely apologize to the Gwangju Jeil High players and parents, and to Gwangju residents, who suffered deep hurt because of our inappropriate remarks and actions."

A said, "Every player is sincerely reflecting deeply, and beyond baseball, we realized again how important character and attitude are in life," adding, "As fellow players, what we did was something we truly must not do, and it was a situation that should not have happened."

A continued, "Because of our players' improper remarks and actions, many people are suffering hurt and pain. We will live with a mindset and posture of reflecting deeply at all times."

Coach B of the Paejae High baseball team also acknowledged responsibility as a leader. B said, "We recognize that the players' region-disparaging cheers are a wrong that cannot be excused by anything, and as a leader who should guide and teach students well, I bear the greatest responsibility and offer my sincere apology."

B said, "In a game that should be clean and fair, I failed to properly teach and lead on respect for the opponent, a sense of fellowship, and the attitude a player should have," adding, "I unconsciously forgot that there are things more important than winning, and I feel only deeper remorse and shame that my words, actions, and coaching style seem not to have been the right example."

Paejae High faculty also said they are taking the matter seriously. The principal and other staff said, "We view this incident not as a simple deviation or mistake but as a case stemming from a comprehensive collapse of ethical awareness and historical understanding, and we are taking it very seriously. We feel devastated and ashamed."

They added, "We are conducting our own fact-finding and disciplinary procedures regarding the incident. We will also respond faithfully to investigations by various agencies."

A handwritten apology letter by the Baejae High School baseball head coach. /Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

After Paejae High read its apology, the players' representative from Gwangju Jeil High said, "Through this incident, it became an opportunity for us at Gwangju Jeil High baseball to look back on whether we, too, have made hurtful remarks or actions. We hope this never happens again."

The Gwangju Jeil High baseball coach also said, "Everyone makes mistakes. It seems that reflecting on mistakes and reconciling with each other is how one grows into a more mature person," adding, "If we face Paejae High on the field again, we look forward to a fair and admirable contest."

Principal Lee Gyu-yeon of Gwangju Jeil High also said, "When you came in, the mothers were in tears, and it pained me. So I forgot what I had planned to say," adding, "Paejae High students, lift your heads. Straighten your shoulders; your futures are not over yet," and, "Apologizing matters and so does putting it into practice, but what's even more important is living better from now on."

After the apology, Paejae High students paid their respects together at the Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Tower near Gwangju Jeil High. They then were to pay their respects together at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery.

Meanwhile, the controversy began when some Paejae High baseball players, during a game at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 29th of last month, shouted toward the Gwangju Jeil High dugout, "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks," and "Tank Day."

The cheers drew fierce criticism as they coincided with the controversy in May when Starbucks Korea ran a tumbler discount event for the May 18 Democratization Movement anniversary and used the phrases "5·18 Tank Day" and "Clack on the desk."

Paejae High decided to refer two students—one who led the chant and one who shouted "Tank Day"—to the life guidance committee for disciplinary action.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is also working to identify the exact sequence of events. Depending on the findings, it plans to consider holding school administrators, including the principal and vice principal, accountable.

Separately from the school and the education office's measures, the Korea Baseball Softball Association Sports Fairness Committee handed Paejae High a six-month suspension from competition. It also resolved to forfeit Paejae High's remaining games in the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship.

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