Baejae High baseball team visits Gwangju to apologize, pays respects at 5.18 Cemetery

A group of about 80 individuals, including all 36 student athletes from Seoul's Baejae High School baseball team, along with parents and teachers, visited Gwangju on the afternoon of the 6th. They apologized to the student athletes from Gwangju Jeil High School for the inappropriate chants made during a game last month, and subsequently paid their respects at the 5.18 Democracy Cemetery by visiting the graves of the victims. The visit was accompanied by Seoul Superintendent of Education Jung Geun-sik and Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Kim Dae-jung.

The incident began when reports surfaced on May 29th, following a game at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul, that Baejae High players had shouted slogans such as "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" towards the Gwangju Jeil High dugout. In response, the Korea Baseball Softball Association's Sports Ethics Committee ruled to suspend the Baejae High baseball team for six months and forfeit all remaining national tournament games.

The visit was initially scheduled for June 1st but was postponed after Gwangju Jeil High requested reconsideration, citing the students' psychological well-being and the upcoming final exam period. The schedule was adjusted through communication between the principals of both schools. Lee Gyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Jeil High, stated that he accepted the apology visit because he felt the students genuinely regretted their actions and wished to reconcile.

Meanwhile, wreaths were placed in front of Baejae High School's main gate, opposing the disciplinary action or showing support for the students. The wreaths, including one from National Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook, bore messages such as, "What does Starbucks have to do with May 18th?" and "We stand with the Baejae High students."