[Anchor]

Students from Baejae High School, who were caught shouting slogans mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement during a national high school baseball tournament, visited Gwangju Jeil High School to offer a formal apology. The Gwangju Jeil High School community embraced the students, encouraging them to meet again for a great game in the future.

KBC reporter Lee Jung-hoo has the story.

[Reporter]

The baseball team members from Baejae High School, who received a six-month suspension and a forfeit for their remaining tournament games due to the 5·18 mockery, visited Gwangju to bow their heads in apology.

This visit comes one week after the controversy erupted over their use of a slogan that referenced the Starbucks 5·18 Tank Day marketing controversy.

[Captain of Baejae High School Baseball Team: We sincerely apologize to the players, parents, and citizens of Gwangju for the deep hurt caused by the inappropriate remarks and actions of the Baejae High School players.]

The players, coaches, and faculty of Gwangju Jeil High School warmly accepted the apology.

They responded that the incident served as an opportunity for self-reflection and suggested that they meet again for a fair and exciting match.

[Lee Gyu-yeon / Principal of Gwangju Jeil High School: Baejae High students, please lift your heads. The best way for you to seek forgiveness is to meet our students again and compete with dignity, giving your all and showing your true skills in a great game.]

After receiving a handwritten letter of apology and exchanging handshakes, the students from both schools visited the May 18th National Cemetery to pay their respects to the victims of the movement.

The visit to the cemetery was accompanied by officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education.

Following the controversy over the Starbucks-related cheering, the Korea Baseball Softball Association imposed a six-month suspension on Baejae High School and ruled that the school would forfeit its remaining games in the 81st Blue Dragon Flag tournament.

The deadline for Baejae High School to file an appeal is July 8.

As critics point out that the responsibility for this 5·18 mockery lies largely with adults who have remained indifferent to hate, there are growing calls for the expansion of democratic citizenship education.

(Video by Park Myung-shin, KBC)

Reported by Lee Jung-hoo, KBC