Rep. Kim Min-jeon Blames Lee Jae-myung's 'Divisive Tactics' for 'Starbucks Cheer' Controversy

Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the People Power Party (PPP) criticized the Ministry of Education's stance, which characterized students' cheers of 'Let's go to Starbucks' as disparaging the May 18th Democratic Uprising and regional prejudice. Rep. Kim pointed out that classifying the cheering act of Baejae High School students as regional hate speech was excessive disciplinary action and psychological violence that could affect their athletic careers, and criticized the ministry's classification.

Rep. Kim argued that this controversy was due to the divisive political behavior of Lee Jae-myung, who was a presidential candidate at the time. Rep. Kim expressed concern that the divisive actions of a specific politician could instill greater conflict and hatred in future generations, stating that this issue would not have arisen if then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung had not employed a 'divide and conquer' frame ahead of the election. She stated that excessive discipline and psychological violence affecting athletic careers sow seeds of greater conflict and hatred in future generations.

Rep. Park Sang-woong of the PPP urged the withdrawal of the '6-month tournament ban' disciplinary action imposed by the Korea Baseball Softball Association on the Baejae High School baseball team. Rep. Park argued that the disciplinary action was tantamount to a death sentence for the student athletes' baseball careers.

Rep. Jung Jong-shik, the PPP's floor leader, stated that the 6-month tournament ban imposed on all Baejae High School players was excessive. Rep. Na Kyung-won of the PPP commented, 'First you take away the freedom to go to Starbucks, and now you're taking away children's dreams?'