Disciplinary Action Expected Today Following Controversial "Starbucks" Chant

[Anchor]

The controversy surrounding the derogatory cheering by the Baejae High School baseball team is intensifying. As the principal of Gwangju Jeil High School, the school targeted by the chants, visited the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) to lodge a formal protest, the association is set to decide on disciplinary measures for the Baejae High School baseball team and the students involved today, July 1.

Bae Jeonghun reports.

[Reporter]

[Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks~ Tank Day~]

Following the incident two days ago, June 29, where Baejae High School baseball players chanted slogans mocking the Gwangju Democratization Movement during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School, the principal of the affected school visited the KBSA yesterday, June 30, to deliver a letter of protest.

He demanded strong action from the association, emphasizing that such incidents must never happen again.

[Lee Gyu-yeon/Principal of Gwangju Jeil High School: I believe that such behavior, especially in a situation where the local community is deeply hurt by matters related to historical consciousness, is something that must not be repeated.]

The KBSA will hold a Sports Fair Play Committee meeting today to hear from the parties involved before determining the level of disciplinary action.

According to the association's regulations, disorderly conduct at a stadium, such as drinking or causing a disturbance, can result in a suspension of one year or more. If the act is deemed to have damaged the dignity of athletes by causing social controversy, penalties can range from a suspension of 5 to 10 years to permanent expulsion.

Furthermore, if association guidelines are violated, the entire team could face suspension from tournaments.

As various civic groups in the Gwangju region have come forward to condemn the regional hate speech by the Baejae High School baseball team, the Baejae Academy Alumni Association also stated that this incident has tarnished the reputation of the school, which has a 140-year history rooted in the "Baejae Spirit." They have called for strict measures against those responsible and the establishment of fundamental countermeasures to prevent recurrence.

It has been reported that Baejae High School is considering forfeiting its second-round match of the Blue Dragon Flag tournament scheduled for tomorrow, July 2.

(Video reporting: Park Hyun-cheol, Na Byeong-uk KBC | Video editing: Lee Seung-jin | Design: Jang Chae-woo, Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.