Baseball Association to Hold Disciplinary Committee Tomorrow Over Baejae High School's 'Starbucks Ceremony' Controversy

Baejae High School, which performed a regional discriminatory ceremony targeting opposing players during a high school baseball game, will be referred to the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) Sports Fair Committee.
The KBSA announced on June 30 on its website, "We are currently investigating the facts by comprehensively verifying the relevant circumstances and statements," adding, "We plan to hold the association's Sports Fair Committee on July 1 to proceed with necessary measures through a fair and strict process in accordance with relevant regulations."
During the first round of the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 29, the Baejae High School baseball team repeatedly chanted, "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks," accompanied by group choreography.
One student also shouted, "Tank Day."
These are the same terms that faced criticism last May for mocking the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, as Starbucks Korea was accused of trivializing the event with expressions like "Tank Day" and "slam on the desk" ahead of the anniversary.
The students transformed these terms into a cheering chant to use against a school from the Gwangju region.
Coaching staff from Gwangju Jeil High School protested and requested that the behavior be stopped, and after the game, the Baejae High School manager and coaches visited the opposing dugout to apologize.
However, the aftermath appears to be spreading rapidly.
In addition to the KBSA convening its Sports Fair Committee, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has also launched a separate investigation.
Lee Gyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Jeil High School, visited the KBSA to deliver a letter of protest, and teacher organizations, including the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), have issued statements in unison.

A game between Baejae High School and Suncheon Hyocheon High School is scheduled for July 2 at Sinwol Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
Whether this game will proceed as planned will also be decided by the association's Sports Fair Committee.
The issue lies in the students' future career paths.
The Baejae High School baseball team includes players aiming to be drafted by professional teams.
An official from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) stated, "There is a limit to what the KBO can do regarding this draft," adding, "Participation in the KBO draft is restricted only if a player receives a suspension or higher disciplinary action due to school violence."
Article 108, Paragraph 4 of Chapter 11 of the KBO Regulations on Rookie Players states, "The KBO may restrict a player who has applied for the rookie draft from participating in the KBO draft and joining a professional team until the period of sanction expires, if the player has received a disciplinary action of suspension or higher from a school, the Korea Baseball Softball Association, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, or other baseball-related governing bodies due to school violence."
Because the clause limits the grounds to "school violence," there is no direct basis in the regulations to block draft participation if this matter is classified by the KBSA under other grounds such as "damaging the dignity of the sport."
However, for professional teams sensitive to fan sentiment, drafting a player who has caused a social controversy is in itself a significant burden.

What is more concerning is that regional discrimination in school sports is not a one-time occurrence.
Reports are continuing to emerge that similar cheering chants have been used against other high schools in the Gwangju region.
One baseball official said, "In high school baseball, it is not uncommon for players from teams in the Seoul metropolitan area to jeer and mock players from teams in the Gyeongsang or Jeolla provinces using regional dialects," adding, "These incidents were just overlooked because they were not treated as issues like this one."
Derogatory expressions consumed like memes on social media and online communities have seeped into the daily vocabulary of teenagers, eventually morphing into "cheering songs" on the field.
The matter is even more serious in that the students are not shouting these with clear political intent, but are transforming hate codes circulating online into cheering chants without much awareness.
Jo Yun-chae, manager of Gwangju Jeil High School, said, "The Baejae High School students were not originally known for causing trouble on the field. As a senior in baseball, I find this situation regrettable."
His words carry both sympathy for his juniors and self-reflection that no one taught them properly enough to prevent this from happening.
Adults created the language of hate, children turned it into cheering songs, and adults looked the other way, allowing the situation to escalate.
The primary responsibility for this incident lies with the older generation.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.