Conservative opposition figures on Monday called for a reconsideration of the disciplinary action against the Baejae High School baseball team, which was given a competition suspension for its so-called "Starbucks cheer," describing the measure as "excessive."
Chung Jum-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), said on Facebook that day, "The Korea Baseball Softball Association's decision to impose a six-month suspension from national competitions on the Baejae High baseball team is considered an excessive measure." He said, "The Baejae High players' jeering of Gwangju Jeil High players with the mocking chant 'You should go to Starbucks' had an aspect of demeaning the May 18 Democratic Uprising and was inappropriate behavior," but added, "It is the role of adults to guide them so they can correct their mistakes and grow in a better direction."
Regarding the competition suspension, he noted, "For teenage athletes, participation in national competitions is tied to college admission and their baseball careers," and pointed out, "There are many players who did not join in the mockery, so a six-month competition suspension for the entire Baejae High baseball team is excessive." He then urged, "Even if we bear the responsibility of education and guidance, that does not extend to a right to trample children's dreams," adding, "I earnestly request that the association reconsider the suspension measure."
Kim Jae-sup, a PPP lawmaker, also said, "The behavior of making a mockery of the May 18 Democratic Uprising is despicable. We cannot grant absolution to acts that trivialize history and stigmatize and mock a particular region," but pointed out, "However, the weight of the criticism being placed on these high school students is abnormally heavy."
He then asked, "Didn't President Lee Jae-myung himself confess that there was a time when he had once misunderstood the May 18 Uprising?" and questioned, "Why is the chance for mistakes and correction that was granted to the president not given to the Baejae High players?" He said, "The Democratic Party does not hesitate to spout nonsense about 'abolishing the Baejae High baseball team,'" adding, "It reflects an intent to hold hostage the entire future of children who have shed blood and sweat their whole lives, all to catch a single slip of the tongue."
He stressed that students should be given a chance to reflect rather than excessive punishment. Kim said, "Nothing can be changed through punitive stigmatization," adding, "Creating an environment where they can admit their mistakes and learn properly is the role of adults and true 'genuine education.'"
The Reform Party also called for the disciplinary action to be withdrawn. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, said, "The actions of some Baejae High students deserve criticism. I hope the students will not make similar mistakes as a result of this incident," but said, "However, the six-month competition suspension should be withdrawn."
Lee, targeting Jung Won-oh, former Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, said, "Not long ago, we saw an arrogant Seoul mayoral candidate who beat a senior, beat police, beat citizens trying to stop him, and used May 18 as an excuse. Now we are watching the president push forward as party leader a person who commemorated the May 18 eve in a spirited manner at Saecheonnyeon NHK," adding, "Such scenes made the students take May 18 lightly."
He added, "If it is unnecessarily harsh only toward the Baejae High students who grew up watching such distorted scenes, then that too is unjust."
