Baejae High School Files Appeal Against Six-Month Suspension, Submits Petition

Baejae High School has decided to file an appeal against the 'six-month suspension' disciplinary action imposed by the Korea Baseball Softball Association. The appeal will be submitted under the name of the head coach, and a petition written by Baejae High School faculty members will also be submitted together.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on July 8, Baejae High School has decided to file an appeal against the six-month suspension imposed by the Korea Baseball Softball Association's Sports Fairness Committee, under the name of the baseball team's head coach.

The petition written by Baejae High School faculty members will also be submitted together.

Previously, Baejae High School's baseball team stirred controversy during the first round of the 81st National Blue Dragon High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 29, by chanting slogans such as "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day." These chants referenced the "Tank Day controversy" involving Starbucks Korea, which became a social issue in May, and have been criticized for mocking and disparaging the May 18 Democratization Movement.

The Korea Baseball Softball Association held its Sports Fairness Committee on July 1 and decided to issue a six-month suspension to the students involved.

Prior to the association's disciplinary action, Baejae High School voluntarily forfeited the remaining games of the Blue Dragon Championship and posted an apology on the school's website on June 30. On the same day, the school also provided human rights sensitivity and ethics education to the baseball team and all students. In addition, the two students who led the controversial chant will be subject to separate measures after a meeting of the Life Education Committee following final exams. The school is also reviewing additional educational measures for other students who participated.

On July 6, the school delivered a letter of apology in person to student athletes and school officials from Gwangju Jeil High School.

On July 7, Gwangju Jeil High School held a press conference and requested leniency from the Korea Baseball Softball Association. In a statement, the Gwangju Seo Middle and Jeil High School Alumni Association said, "It is not our wish to brand the students who have deeply reflected on their wrongdoing and sincerely asked for forgiveness with a permanent scar." The statement continued, "We hope that the authorities will take the lead in granting leniency to the students who have genuinely repented and pledged to start anew," expressing hope that the six-month suspension imposed on Baejae High School would be reduced.

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