Baejae High School Baseball Team Returns After Suspension for May 18 Derogatory Remarks: "We Reflected Deeply"

[Anchor]

The Baejae High School baseball team, which received a one-month suspension for a controversy surrounding disparaging remarks about the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, has returned to official competition after 45 days. Expressing that they spent a period of profound self-reflection, they played their return match in an unusually subdued atmosphere.

Reporter Bae Jeonghun has the story.

[Reporter]

Players from Baejae High School appeared at Mokdong Baseball Stadium, where the Phoenix Cup National High School Baseball Championship is taking place.

This marked their first official tournament appearance since receiving a one-month suspension for disparaging cheers directed at Gwangju Jeil High School during a match.

[Lee Jang-hwan / Baejae High School Coach: We have reflected a lot since the incident, and we are truly sorry. We have prepared really hard. We will greet you with a better image.]

A notice prohibiting cheers that demean opponents scrolled across the scoreboard, and Baejae High School players bowed 90 degrees toward the stands before the start of the game.

[Let's sing the song of our Baejae Hakdang, Baejae Hakdang]

[Wow!]

While passionate cheering battles unfolded in the stands between alumni and parents from both schools, the scene in the dugout was in stark contrast.

Energetic cheers echoed from Incheon High School, but in the Baejae High School dugout, even decisive plays were met with quiet applause rather than loud cheers.

Baejae High School lost 8 to 5 to Incheon High School, ending their final national tournament of the year—which they fought hard to participate in—after just a single game.

(Photo: Lim Woo-shik | Video Editing: Park Jung-sam | Design: Yeji)