Baejae High Apology Falls Through Over "Let's Go to Starbucks" Remark

Baejae High School, which drew controversy for cheers demeaning a rival school during a high school baseball game, planned to visit the affected Gwangju Jeil High School in person to apologize, but the visit was postponed at Gwangju Jeil High's request.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a statement Sunday regarding the "Baejae High baseball team incident," saying it had conveyed the intention of Baejae High faculty, baseball team students, and parents to visit Gwangju Jeil High in person to express their sincere apology.

However, Gwangju Jeil High conveyed to Baejae High its position that "our students are currently not in a state of mind to accept an apology, so please reconsider today's (June 1) visit."

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and Baejae High decided to prioritize the psychological stability of Gwangju Jeil High students and to coordinate a future visit schedule in consultation with Gwangju Jeil High.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained that "Baejae High clearly intends to visit and apologize in person at any time, but for now no specific visit date has been set."

Earlier, on May 29, during the first round of the 81st Chungnyongi National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul, Baejae High repeatedly shouted chants such as "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks" along with group choreography against Gwangju Jeil High, sparking controversy.

This was seen as an expression reminiscent of the so-called "Tank Day" controversy involving Starbucks Korea in May, prompting criticism that it mocked the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Gwangju Jeil High's coaching staff protested on the spot at the time, demanding that the cheering chants be stopped. After the game ended, Baejae High manager Kwon Oh-young and the coaching staff visited the opposing bench to apologize.

Gwangju Jeil High subsequently delivered a letter of protest to the Korea Baseball Softball Association, which is set to hold a Sports Fair Play Committee meeting to review the matter that day.