Conservative civic groups have launched a series of legal complaints against the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) following its decision to impose heavy disciplinary action on Paejae High School over a controversial "Starbucks" chant.
Today, July 3, the Committee for the People's Livelihood (Seominwi) is filing a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this morning, seeking the prosecution of association officials on charges including coercion and obstruction of business.
The committee argues that the disciplinary action taken against the Paejae High School baseball team is excessive.
The complaint targets not only the association's president and vice president but also members of the KBSA Sports Fair Committee, who decided to suspend the Paejae High School baseball team from all national competitions for six months.
In the complaint, Seominwi stated, "The players are minors, and it is unreasonable to view the chant as malicious," adding that "applying the suspension to senior players, thereby hindering their future careers, constitutes a one-sided, unfair, and irrational disciplinary measure."
The Free Korea Patriotic Corps also plans to file a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this morning, raising similar arguments.
The targets of their complaint are also officials from the association.
Kim Hye-ji, a former Seoul Metropolitan Council member who served as a standing deputy spokesperson for the camp of former People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, has also announced plans to file a complaint against the association's leadership today.
While acknowledging that the mocking cheer itself was clearly problematic, Kim argues that banning Paejae High School from participating in all tournaments for the second half of the year is an overreach of the association's authority.
Signs that the Paejae High School incident is becoming a political issue, including these legal complaints, are emerging in various places.
During a Supreme Council meeting yesterday, members of the ruling People Power Party collectively criticized the association's disciplinary action, calling it "excessive and violent."
Recently, wreaths bearing critical messages such as "Democracy is dead" and supportive wreaths sent by hardline conservative groups have been placed simultaneously in front of Paejae High School.
The Gwangju Jeil High School Alumni Association, the victim of this incident, has expressed a cautious stance, stating that while a thorough investigation and accountability are necessary, punishing the students is not the only solution.
The Gwangju Seo Middle and Jeil High School Alumni Association issued a statement yesterday welcoming the association's serious recognition of the situation, but noted, "Our goal is not the ruin of the students, but the restoration of education and justice."
On July 1, staff, baseball players, and parents from Paejae High School expressed their intention to offer a direct apology through the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Gwangju Jeil High School has requested that the visit be reconsidered for the time being, citing that the school is currently in the middle of exam periods and that the students need psychological stability.
Some players from the Paejae High School baseball team shouted "Let's go to Starbucks" toward the opposing dugout during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School at the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League King of Kings tournament held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 29.
The incident sparked significant controversy as the chant was seen as a mockery referencing the recent "5.18 Tank Day" event controversy involving Starbucks Korea last month.
(Photo: Yonhap News)