In connection with the controversy over Paejae High School baseball team's cheer that disparaged the May 18 Democratization Movement, the alumni associations of Gwangju Jeil High School and Gwangju Seo Middle and High School, the schools harmed, officially asked for leniency for the Paejae students. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will provide history and human rights education for all Paejae students and carry out special inspections of athletic teams at schools in its jurisdiction as follow-up measures.
The Gwangju Seo Middle and High School alumni association issued a statement on the 7th, saying, "The ultimate goal is not to punish the offending students but to restore proper education and justice," and added, "Branding students who deeply regret their wrongdoing and sincerely asked for forgiveness with a scarlet letter is not the path we seek."
The alumni association continued, "We hope the students will use this incident as an opportunity to overcome hate culture," and asked, "Rather than inflating conflict by imposing political meaning on this case, please look to the spirit of reconciliation and tolerance shown by the two schools."
Gwangju Jeil High School also said in a separate statement the same day that it hopes the apology made by Paejae the previous day will serve as a moment of educational significance. Gwangju Jeil High School said, "We hope the apologies by Paejae students, faculty and staff, parents, and the alumni association the previous day will serve as a moment that leaves educational meaning for students."
Gwangju Jeil High School also said, "We hope this incident becomes a turning point where the culture of cheers that demean or mock opponents disappears from high school baseball fields and where respect for opponents takes root as part of education." It added that students, faculty and staff, and parents will work to build a school culture where everyone respects and cares for one another.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is also pushing follow-up measures. Starting on the 9th through the summer break, the office will dispatch specialists from the democratic civic education division to Paejae to provide all students with education on history, human rights, and preventing discriminatory and hateful expressions.
It will also work with the School Sports Promotion Association to develop and distribute educational materials for student-athletes. The materials will include content on banning hateful and discriminatory expressions and fostering a healthy cheering culture.
Special inspections of school athletic teams in Seoul will also continue. Through mid-Aug., the office plans to focus on whether sports human rights education is being conducted, guaranteeing student-athletes' right to study, transparency in team operations, and responses to school violence cases at athletic teams within its jurisdiction.
Paejae is discussing whether to file an appeal of the Korea Baseball Softball Association's disciplinary action. The deadline to appeal is on the 8th. If an appeal is filed, the final review is expected to take up to about two months.