The schedule for a retrial of Paejae High School's baseball team, which was suspended from national tournaments for six months over controversy about "cheering that disparaged the May 18 Democratic Uprising," will be decided on the 14th. If the penalty is significantly reduced, there remains a chance the team could enter the Bonghwangdaegi National High School Baseball Tournament next month, drawing attention to the retrial's outcome.
According to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) and others on the 10th, the committee's Sports Fairness Commission will convene a subcommittee on the 14th to discuss whether to submit Paejae High School baseball team's disciplinary retrial agenda to the next Fairness Commission meeting on the 20th.
If the subcommittee decides on the 20th to bring the agenda to the Fairness Commission, Paejae High School's disciplinary case could be reviewed the same day. The KSOC Sports Fairness Commission serves as the final appeals body for disciplinary actions within its affiliated organizations and operates by reaching conclusions on the day of deliberation. The retrial decision takes effect immediately upon resolution.
For Paejae High School, this schedule is expected to be a watershed that will determine whether it can enter the Bonghwangdaegi. The 54th Bonghwangdaegi National High School Baseball Tournament, which opens on Aug. 6, is considered effectively the last national tournament the school can enter this year.
If the subcommittee submits the retrial agenda to the Fairness Commission on the 20th, and the commission sharply reduces the penalty to a level of one month or less of suspension, Paejae High School could take the field at the Bonghwangdaegi. Conversely, if the agenda submission is pushed past the 20th or the reduction is insufficient, entering the tournament becomes difficult.
Separately from the KSOC retrial process, Paejae High School also filed for an injunction with the court to suspend the effect of the six-month suspension. If the court grants the request, the disciplinary effect will be temporarily halted regardless of the retrial schedule, potentially clearing the way to enter the Bonghwangdaegi.
Meanwhile, the controversy erupted on the 29th at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul during the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Champions Tournament. At the time, some Paejae High School student-athletes shouted slogans such as "You gotta go, you gotta go, you gotta go to Starbucks," and "Tank Day" toward the opposing dugout while playing Gwangju Jeil High School. Criticism spread that they were mocking the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association Sports Fairness Commission reviewed the case on the 1st and resolved to suspend the Paejae High School baseball team from national tournaments for six months. It also issued a forfeit loss for the remaining games of the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship.
Because of this penalty, the Paejae High School baseball team faced the prospect of being blocked from the remaining national tournaments. Concerns were raised in particular that it could affect third-year student-athletes' college admissions and entry into professional baseball.
After the penalty, Paejae High School, including Principal Lee Hyo-jun, faculty, student-athletes, and parents, visited Gwangju Jeil High School to apologize in person. They bowed their heads to the affected students, paid their respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery, and pledged to prevent a recurrence.
Gwangju Jeil High School also accepted Paejae High School's apology and reportedly requested leniency. However, the final level of discipline and whether Paejae High School can enter the Bonghwangdaegi is expected to depend on the KSOC Sports Fairness Commission's retrial and the court's ruling on the injunction.