From Mockery to Rowing and Sketchbooks: A Shift in Student Baseball Culture

[Anchor]

Following the controversy over Baejae High School's cheering that disparaged the May 18 Democratization Movement, there has been ongoing criticism that the deep-rooted culture of mocking cheers in student baseball is to blame. Have there been any signs of change since this incident?

Reporter Bae Jeonghun went to the field to find out.

[Reporter]

From cheers that sparked controversy for disparaging the May 18 movement,

[Let's go, let's go. Let's go to Starbucks]

[Tank Day]

To twisted provocations aimed at the opposing team,

[Woof woof woof! Woof woof!]

[It would be embarrassing to get hit by a freshman]

The culture of mocking cheers has been a chronic problem in our student baseball.

However, since the controversy over Baejae High School's disparaging cheers became a public issue, such scenes have become difficult to find.

While the noisy atmosphere in both teams' dugouts remained, players now cheer for their own teammates with applause,

[Glory glory glory Saegwang, glory glory glory Saegwang]

and they also boost the atmosphere by singing their school anthems.

The space where mockery once existed has been filled with sketchbooks full of various cheering messages.

Saegwang High School, which won the championship, shared laughs with fans by performing the rowing celebration popularized by the Norwegian national team during the World Cup.

[Park Sang-min/Saegwang High School Pitcher: Since the World Cup is trending, I think we followed the Norwegian cheering style. It is much more fun and better to watch without the mocking cheers, so I think it is a good thing.]

Coaches, who were already aware of the seriousness of the issue, have also stepped up.

[Bang Jin-ho/Saegwang High School Manager: We talked about the intention of having a more mannerly cheering culture. I am very proud that the kids followed that well and showed themselves enjoying the game. I hope this kind of healthy cheering culture becomes well-established.]

In high school baseball, where disparagement and mockery were once rampant, a fresh, student-like cheering culture is beginning to take root.

(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok | Video editing: Ha Seong-won | Design: Jang Chae-woo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.