Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Receives Appeal from Paichai High School Baseball Team over 'Starbucks Chant Controversy'...Decision Possible Late This Month

Attention Turns to Bonghwangdaegi Participation

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced that it has received an appeal for a retrial regarding the six-month suspension imposed on the Paichai High School baseball team, which sparked controversy by chanting slogans such as "We should go to Starbucks" during a high school baseball tournament.

'Starbucks Chant Controversy': Paichai High School Submits Appeal

During a game against Gwangju Jeil High School (Gwangju Ilgo), the baseball team of Paichai High School in Seoul, which was suspended from play for six months due to chanting slogans that belittled the May 18 Democratic Movement, decided to request a retrial on the 8th. The photo shows the Paichai High School in Gangdong District, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to Yonhap News Agency on July 8, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee plans to review the related case at the Sports Fairness Committee (chaired by Lee Youngjin, hereinafter referred to as the Fairness Committee), which is expected to convene later this month at the earliest. If the retrial agenda is submitted and the disciplinary action is reduced, the Paichai High School baseball team may be able to participate in the 54th Bonghwangdaegi National High School Baseball Tournament scheduled for next month.

An official from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee stated, "The date for the next Fairness Committee meeting has not yet been finalized, but it is expected to be held at the end of this month," adding, "Before the Fairness Committee convenes, a disciplinary review subcommittee will be held, where it will be decided whether to present the Paichai High School retrial case to the Fairness Committee at the end of this month." The official further explained, "Since there are many cases currently pending, it is uncertain whether the Paichai High School case will actually be reviewed by the Fairness Committee at the end of this month."

According to regulations of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the Fairness Committee serves as the final arbiter for disciplinary actions within affiliated organizations and renders a decision on the day of the review. Disciplinary measures take effect immediately after the Fairness Committee's resolution. Therefore, if the retrial case is submitted at the end of this month and the suspension is significantly reduced to a warning or similar, Paichai High School could become eligible to participate in the Bonghwangdaegi tournament.

'Six-Month Suspension' for Paichai High School Baseball Team

During the game against Gwangju Jeil High School (Gwangju Ilgo), the Seoul Paejae High School baseball team, which was suspended from participation for six months after chanting slogans belittling the May 18 Democratic Uprising, decided to file an appeal on the 8th. The photo shows the dugout of Paejae High School baseball field in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on that day. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, some players from the Paichai High School baseball team caused controversy by chanting slogans such as "We should go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" toward the opposing team’s dugout during the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship game against Gwangju Jeil High School (Gwangju Ilgo) at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on June 29. These chants drew criticism for evoking the so-called '5·18 Tank Day' event controversy of Starbucks Korea, and for being regarded as derogatory remarks towards a specific region.

As the controversy intensified, the Sports Fairness Committee of the Korea Baseball Softball Association decided on July 1 to impose a six-month suspension on the Paichai High School baseball team and to forfeit the remaining games of the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship.

In fact, the only national tournament Paichai High School can participate in for the remainder of the year is the Bonghwangdaegi, which is held without regional qualifiers. The Bonghwangdaegi tournament opens on August 6, and it is reported that the Korea Baseball Softball Association is preparing for the event while considering the possibility of Paichai High School’s participation.

"Please Gather Wisdom for a Fresh Start"... Principal of Gwangju Ilgo Appeals for Leniency

Students of the baseball team at Paichai High School in Seoul visited Gwangju Jeil High School in Gwangju, Jeonnam Province on the 6th, apologized, and shook hands with the Gwangju Jeil High School baseball team. The Paichai High School baseball team recently sparked public outrage with the 5.18 mock chant "We should go to Starbucks" during the high school baseball championship. Yonhap News

Meanwhile, recently, students from the Paichai High School baseball team and school officials visited Gwangju Ilgo in person to apologize. In addition, Kyuyeon Lee, principal of Gwangju Ilgo, held a press conference and said, "I ask the Korea Baseball Softball Association and baseball officials to consider an attitude of forgiveness and reconciliation and to pool their administrative resources and wisdom so that the Paichai High School baseball team students can make a fresh start on the field."

The Gwangju Ilgo Alumni Association also issued a statement, saying, "What we do not wish for is to brand students who have deeply reflected on their actions and sincerely sought forgiveness with a scarlet letter," adding, "We hope that this painful mistake will become a valuable life compass for the Paichai High School students."

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