Two Paejae High School Students Who Chanted "Let's Go to Starbucks" Ultimately Quit Baseball

Controversy Sparked by Chants Reminiscent of the May 18 Democratic Movement
Two Leading Students Express Intention to Quit Baseball

Two students from the Seoul Paejae High School baseball team, who caused controversy for chanting a mocking slogan reminiscent of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, have reportedly decided to quit baseball.

Students from Paejae High School baseball team paying their respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeonnam. Photo by Yonhap News

According to sources in the baseball community on the 25th, the two players who led the controversial chant recently informed the school of their intention to leave the baseball team.

The controversy erupted during the 81st Cheongryong National High School Baseball Championship game, held on June 29 at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul, against Gwangju Jeil High School. At the time, some Paejae High School players shouted chants such as "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks" toward the opposing team's dugout, and the phrase "Tank Day" was also reportedly used.

These chants drew criticism for evoking a previous incident where Starbucks Korea sparked controversy by organizing an event using phrases like "Tank Day" and "Slam the desk" just prior to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. As the opponent, Gwangju Jeil High School, is based in Gwangju, this fueled criticism that the chants mocked the May 18 Uprising and the Gwangju region.

In the Cheongryong National High School Baseball Championship game between Paichai High School and Gwangju Jeil High School, Paichai High School players are cheering from the dugout. Captured from the YouTube channel 'Gangneung Baseball TV'.

As the controversy grew, the Korea Baseball Softball Association's Sports Fairness Committee imposed a six-month ban on Paejae High School's baseball team from participating in national tournaments. Paejae High School appealed the decision, and the Korea Sports Fairness Committee reduced the suspension period to one month, taking into account the players' future and their subsequent apologies. As a result, Paejae High School was allowed to participate in the Bonghwanggi National High School Baseball Tournament held on the 12th.

However, the two students identified as leading the chants were not permitted to take part in the Bonghwanggi tournament. Paejae High School reportedly convened a disciplinary committee and imposed severe internal penalties on the two students after the controversy intensified. Ultimately, the two students identified as the main figures in the chanting controversy recently conveyed their decision to quit baseball to the school.

Within the baseball community, there are growing calls to eradicate the culture of derogatory and mocking cheers toward opponents — a practice that has become almost customary in some school settings — and to reinforce character education as a result of this incident.

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