Pai Chai High School Baseball Team to Visit Gwangju on July 6 for Formal Apology and Joint 5·18 Cemetery Visit

[Anchor]

The Pai Chai High School baseball team, which drew criticism for using inappropriate cheers during a game, has decided to visit Gwangju this coming Monday to offer a formal apology. Gwangju Jeil High School has agreed to accept the apology, and the two schools plan to pay their respects together at the May 18th National Cemetery.

Report by Jo Yoon-ha.

[Reporter]

Four days after the incident, Gwangju Jeil High School decided yesterday, July 3, to accept an apology from Pai Chai High School regarding the inappropriate cheer, which included the phrase "Let's go to Starbucks," used during a baseball game.

Until the day before, the school had stated that its baseball players were not yet emotionally prepared to receive an apology. However, they explained the change in their decision by stating, "We felt that the students from Pai Chai High School are genuinely reflecting on their mistakes and sincerely wish for reconciliation, so we decided to accept their visit."

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

Accordingly, all 36 members of the Pai Chai High School baseball team, along with parents and teachers totaling about 80 people, will visit Gwangju Jeil High School this coming Monday, July 6.

After delivering their 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.

Separately from the apology, Pai Chai High School plans to proceed with internal disciplinary procedures for the baseball team members.

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

[Kim Heo-jung / 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 Pai Chai School 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 experience can serve as a lifelong lesson and help them grow into mature individuals."

The Office of Education reported that Pai Chai High School has not yet filed an appeal regarding the suspension.

(Video reporting: Kim Han-gyeol, Video editing: Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.