[Anchor]

The Paejae High School baseball team, which chanted inappropriate cheering slogans during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School, has decided to visit Gwangju this coming Monday to offer an official apology. With Gwangju Jeil High School accepting the offer, the two schools are scheduled to pay a joint visit to the May 18th National Cemetery.

Report by Jo Yoon-ha.

[Reporter]

Gwangju Jeil High School decided today, July 3, to accept an apology from Paejae High School four days after the incident, in which the latter chanted a slogan mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement during a baseball game.

Until yesterday, the school had maintained that its baseball players were not yet emotionally prepared to accept an apology. However, they explained the decision by stating, "We felt that the students from Paejae High School are truly remorseful and sincerely wish for reconciliation, so we decided to accept their visit."

The school added, "We hope this reconciliation will serve as a fresh start for the students."

Accordingly, all 36 members of the Paejae High School baseball team, along with about 80 parents and teachers, will visit Gwangju Jeil High School next Monday, July 6.

After delivering an apology to the Gwangju Jeil High School baseball team and spending time in reconciliation, they plan to move to the May 18th National Cemetery to pay their respects.

Apart from the apology, Paejae High School plans to proceed with its own disciplinary procedures for the baseball team members.

So far, two students who led the chanting have been referred to the school's student disciplinary committee, and the school is considering whether to refer additional students who joined in.

[Kim Heo-joong / Director of Physical Education, Health and Arts, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education: The authority to discipline students lies with the school. Since the school is likely aware of the situation in the dugout and other details, we expect them to make a decision after a comprehensive review.]

The Paejae Academy Alumni Association has submitted a petition to the Korea Baseball Softball Association, which imposed a six-month suspension from national tournaments, requesting leniency so that "this single experience can serve as a lifelong lesson and help them grow into mature individuals."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education reported that Paejae High School has not yet filed an appeal regarding the suspension.

(Video reporting: Kim Han-gyeol, Video editing: Lee Seung-jin)