[Anchor]

A high school baseball tournament held today (June 29) has sparked major controversy after regional discriminatory chants echoed through the stadium. During a game against Gwangju Jeil High School, members of the Baejae High School baseball team used Starbucks—which recently caused a stir with its "Tank Day" event—as a subject for their cheers, effectively mocking the Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Reporter Bae Jung-hun has the story.

[Reporter]

Loud cheering is heard from the dugout of Baejae High School as they face off against Gwangju Jeil High School.

[Let's go, let's go. Let's go to Starbucks~ Tank Day~]

Unable to tolerate this, the coaching staff of Gwangju Jeil High School protested.

[Hey, that's enough, you jerks. There's a limit to everything. What are you doing over there? Why are you talking about going to Starbucks?]

Starbucks recently caused significant social controversy by holding a "Tank Day" event, which was criticized for disparaging the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, leading Shinsegae Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin to issue a public apology. The Baejae High School students used this to taunt the Gwangju-based Gwangju Jeil High School students by shouting that they would "go to Starbucks."

[Jo Yun-chae / Manager of Gwangju Jeil High School Baseball Team: (Our coach) said, "Isn't mentioning Starbucks going too far?" and raised his voice, asking what the kids were doing. I spoke to the umpire and asked them to sanction the team if they were going to cheer like that.]

Baejae High School stated that it would deal with the student athletes who made the mocking remarks strictly according to school regulations and procedures, and added that it would conduct special education for the entire baseball team.

The Korea Baseball Softball Association, which received the report on the incident, also plans to immediately refer the regional discrimination controversy to its Sports Fair Committee to determine the level of disciplinary action.

Reported by Bae Jung-hun | Video by Ha Seong-won | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon