Paijae High School Surrounded by Supportive and Protest Wreaths Amid May 18 Derogatory Cheer Controversy

Controversy Over Regionally Disparaging Cheers Directed at Gwangju Jeil High School During Baseball Tournament
On June 30, Funeral Wreaths Begin to Line Up at the School Gate

As controversy continues over Paejae High School's baseball team chanting derogatory cheers referencing the May 18 Democratization Movement—such as "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day"—during a tournament, both supportive and critical wreaths have been placed in front of the school's main gate. It has now been reported that some students damaged one of the protest wreaths, sparking further controversy.

Funeral wreaths placed at Paejae High School. Photo by Yonhap News.

On July 2, an online community user who identified themselves as a current student at Paejae High School posted a photo showing a funeral wreath lying on the ground and partially damaged, stating, "A more serious incident has occurred."

The damaged wreath reportedly bore a message reading, "Korean democracy is too generous for people who insult the democratization movement." It was said to be the first funeral wreath to arrive at the school.

The source claimed, "It was a third-year student, not a baseball team member, who kicked the funeral wreath," and added, "Do not expect any remorse from the baseball team. Even today, they cut in line at the cafeteria during lunch and caused trouble for other students, eating noisily instead of quietly." However, the authenticity of these claims and the circumstances surrounding the wreath's damage have not been confirmed.

Previously, on June 29, Paejae High School's baseball team caused controversy by chanting regionally disparaging slogans toward the Gwangju Jeil High School dugout during the first round of the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Afterward, Paejae High School posted an official apology on its social networking service (SNS), and the city education office launched an investigation, but the controversy has not subsided.

On June 30, the funeral wreath containing the now-damaged message was placed in front of Paejae High School's main gate in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. As the controversy grew, the number of funeral wreaths increased. According to a Newsis report on July 2, both supportive and critical wreaths now stand side by side at the school entrance. Supportive wreaths featured messages such as, "Don't lose confidence, we're proud of you, Paejae High School, stay strong," and "We support the spirit of freedom at Paejae School. We reject the distortion of sports by the May 18 movement." Printed materials on the ground included messages like, "Sons, don't be hurt by this trash. You are our future. Your mothers will protect you."

Meanwhile, on July 1, the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) held its 11th Sports Fairness Committee at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul and imposed a six-month ban from national tournaments on the Paejae High School baseball team as a disciplinary measure related to the incident.

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