Paichai High School’s baseball team, which received a six-month suspension from national tournaments for chanting slogans deriding the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980 during a match against Gwangju Jeil High School, has filed for a retrial with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.
According to a source from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 8th, Paichai High School decided to apply for a retrial with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the higher governing body, regarding the “six-month suspension from national tournaments” penalty imposed by the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA). A petition written by Paichai High School staff will also be submitted.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee must convene a committee and complete deliberations and voting within 60 days of receiving the retrial application.
Some Paichai High School student athletes chanted “We should go to Starbucks” and “Tank Day” during the first round of the 81st Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship Tournament against Gwangju Jeil High School at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 29. These chants sparked controversy as they were interpreted as mocking the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980.
The KBSA held an emergency SportsKFTC committee meeting on July 1 and imposed a six-month suspension from national tournaments on Paichai High School’s baseball team. The penalty took immediate effect, forcing Paichai High School to forfeit the second round of the Blue Dragon Flag tournament.
Paichai High School baseball team members, parents, and staff visited Gwangju Jeil High School on July 6 to deliver handwritten apologies and bow in remorse. Gwangju Jeil High School athletes accepted the apology, and students from both schools later visited the May 18th National Cemetery together to pay respects.
The Gwangju Jeil High School Alumni Association stated on July 7, “We aim for proper education and restoration of justice, not punishment for young students,” and requested leniency for the Paichai High School students from the KBSA.
Lee Kyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Jeil High School, also expressed, “We hope the KBSA and baseball officials will gather administrative capabilities and wisdom to allow Paichai High School’s baseball team to start anew on the field,” indicating a willingness to show leniency.
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