It was found that student athletes on the Paejae High School baseball team, embroiled in controversy over allegedly mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement, submitted statements explaining that they "did not know it was hate speech" regarding the problematic cheering slogans.
According to a report by the JoongAng Ilbo on the 9th, statements from 36 Paejae High School baseball team student athletes submitted by the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) to the office of Park Su-min of the People Power Party included accounts from many students saying they "did not think remarks such as 'Starbucks' and 'Tank Day' were expressions that disparaged the May 18 Democratization Movement." The students said, "We made the remarks without knowing the historical context, but we deeply reflect on them."
Student A, who first shouted the problematic slogan "We should go to Starbucks," argued there was no intent to belittle Gwangju. In the statement, Student A wrote, "I was only thinking about the team's vibe and had absolutely no intention of belittling Gwangju," adding, "The Gwangju Starbucks controversy suddenly came to mind, and that led me to that chant."
Student A also said, "After the game ended, I felt I had made a big mistake, and I feel great guilt toward the citizens of Gwangju and the school officials."
Student B, who shouted "Tank Day," likewise said they did not know the expression was connected to May 18. Student B said, "I remembered that Starbucks held a Tank Day event," and argued, "I didn't know it was related to May 18, and I didn't know what had happened at Starbucks." They added, "I didn't shout to belittle or mock the opponent. I recognize the wrongdoing and am reflecting."
However, the statements also included accounts suggesting some students recognized the problematic nature of the slogans at the time. One student wrote, "Around the middle of the game, a 'Starbucks bang-bang' chant came out, so I asked the kids, 'Why is Starbucks suddenly coming up?' and, being told it was about May 18 in Gwangju, I thought we shouldn't do it."
Another student testified, "I heard the Starbucks talk, and I felt this wasn't right, so I warned Student A, saying, 'Hey, this isn't it. Don't do it.'"
There were also accounts that jeering remarks toward the Gwangju Il High School pitcher escalated tensions between the sides. One student said, "When the (Gwangju Il High) pitcher suddenly slipped, we provoked him by saying, 'What are you doing,' 'What did you do last night,' and the angry Gwangju Il High coach came out of the dugout and said, 'I've held back a lot. Keep it appropriate.'"
Another student said, "At the time of the Starbucks chant, the opposing team's coach didn't say anything, but after 'What are you doing,' he yelled, 'Just do your own cheering.'"
Statements also said the jeering cheers had been repeated since early in the game. One student wrote, "From the early start of the game, our team did jeering chants at the opponent a few times, and in the middle the umpire warned our team," adding, "The opposing team's first-base base running coach also kept giving repeated warnings not to jeer."
The students also gave accounts of when the problematic slogans were shouted. Some said, "Around the second or third inning, 'We should go to Starbucks' suddenly came out," and, "During the attack in the fourth inning, while talking about Starbucks, someone shouted loudly, 'Tank Day.'"
Paejae High School began internal disciplinary procedures, including referring Students A and B, who shouted the controversial slogans, to the Life Education Committee. On the 6th, they visited Gwangju Il High School to apologize, and the next day Gwangju Il High School asked for leniency for the Paejae High School baseball team.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association convened the Sports Fairness Committee on the 1st and handed down a six-month suspension from national competitions to the Paejae High School baseball team. On the 8th, Paejae High School filed for a retrial of the disciplinary action with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) Sports Fairness Committee.