"Even Starbucks Wasn't Suspended? Paijae High School's Ban Is Excessive"... Han Donghun Criticizes Disciplinary Action

'Starbucks Chant' Suspension of Paijae High School Baseball Team Sparks Controversy
Opposition Lawmakers Denounce "Excessive Punishment"

Starbucks store logo. Screenshot from the Starbucks website

The controversy over the Paijae High School baseball team, which drew attention for its use of a "Starbucks chant" during a high school baseball game, has intensified as the team received a six-month suspension from all national tournaments. While there is broad agreement on the inappropriateness of remarks that evoke the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, critics—particularly from opposition parties—argue that the disciplinary action is excessive when considering the students' futures.

Controversy Over 'May 18 Mockery' at High School Baseball Championship

The controversy arose during the 81st Cheongryong National High School Baseball Championship held recently at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul. At that time, some Paijae High School players shouted the chant, "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks," toward the dugout of their opponent, Gwangju Jeil High School. One student even loudly shouted, "Tank Day."

This chant is interpreted as a mocking reference to an incident in May, when Starbucks Korea was criticized for trivializing the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement by holding an event with phrases such as "Tank Day" and "Slamming on the Desk" ahead of the movement's anniversary.

According to the school's own investigation, one team member inserted "Starbucks" into an existing cheer, and the rest of the team joined in spontaneously.

On the 29th of last month, during the Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship game between Paichai High School and Gwangju Jeil High School, Paichai players were dancing in the dugout to a cheer song that included the chant "We have to go to Starbucks." Screenshot from SNS

Association: "Violation of Sportsmanship"... Six-Month Suspension

On July 1, the Korea Baseball Softball Association (the Association) held an emergency Sports Fairness Committee meeting at Olympic Parktel in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul to review the inappropriate cheer by the Paijae High School baseball team.

After confirming the facts and comprehensively reviewing testimony from those involved, the committee determined that this incident violated the spirit of sportsmanship and disrupted order in the stadium. As a result, Paijae High School was given a six-month suspension from all national tournaments.

"Excessive Disciplinary Action"... Opposition Lawmakers Speak Out

In response, Donghun Han, Independent Member of the National Assembly, stated on his Facebook page on July 1, "While it was wrong to use the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement as a subject of ridicule against the opposing team during a high school baseball game, imposing a six-month suspension on young students is excessive." He pointed out, "Even Choi Wook, an adult broadcaster who said on TV that the situation should be 'crushed by a tank,' only apologized and continues to be on air, and Starbucks did not have its business suspended."

Donghun Han, Independent Member of the National Assembly.

Kim Jaeseop, Member of the People Power Party, also wrote on Facebook, "Although the behavior of Paijae High School players in mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement is deplorable, the degree of criticism directed at these high school students is abnormally heavy."

Assemblyman Kim said, "Until recently, the entire government, led by the President, was criticizing Starbucks, and now the Minister of Education and politicians are collectively engaging in a witch hunt against Paijae High School players. Even President Lee Jaemyung himself once admitted to misunderstanding the May 18 Movement due to misinformation and confessed to having been a member of Ilbe. Why are opportunities for mistakes and correction allowed to the President but not to the Paijae High School players?"

He continued, "The Democratic Party is even irresponsibly talking about 'disbanding the Paijae High School baseball team.' Is this an attempt to take the future of students who have shed blood and sweat over a lifetime hostage over a single slip of the tongue? Punitive stigmatization will not change anything."

Nakyeongwon, member of the People Power Party.

Na Kyungwon, Member of the People Power Party, also shared a related article on Facebook, stating, "After taking away the freedom to go to Starbucks, are you now taking away the children's dreams as well?" and questioned whether the punishment was truly justified. She added, "This is the shameful reality of Korea under President Lee Jaemyung's administration," and called it "deplorable."

Joo Jinwoo, another Member of the People Power Party, said, "The disciplinary action is excessive and lacks procedural and substantive legitimacy. Even in school violence cases, a committee is convened, a hearing takes place, and opportunities for defense are provided. In this case, severe punishment was imposed in just one day with no procedural guarantees whatsoever."

He also criticized, "Each situation is different, yet all players received the same penalty, which is a form of guilt-by-association. A six-month suspension makes it virtually impossible for students to advance to professional leagues or higher education." Joo emphasized, "The principle should be guidance, not blocking the path of students. The education office also bears a heavy responsibility for instructing students. This is not an issue to simply impose suffering on students and their parents," adding, "Students should not be socially stigmatized."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.