A chant that could be interpreted as a regional slur has emerged at a high school baseball tournament, sparking controversy.
Some student athletes on the Baejae High School baseball team shouted "You should go to Starbucks" toward the opposing dugout during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School on Sunday at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul. The game was part of the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Grand Champion Tournament. The remark is interpreted as a mocking chant evoking the controversy over Starbucks Korea's so-called "Tank Day" event last month. Gwangju Jeil High School strongly protested to the umpires during the game, and the umpire issued a warning to Baejae High. Gwangju Jeil High reportedly reported the matter to the Korea Baseball Softball Association.
Baejae High posted an apology on its school website that day. The school said, "We sincerely apologize for causing deep hurt and disappointment to the Gwangju Jeil High School team, parents, alumni, and many others including Gwangju citizens through an inappropriate cheering chant by some student athletes." It added, "The cheer was an act that went against the sportsmanship of respecting the opposing school and local community, and lacked respect for historical significance and the local community." Baejae High explained, "We immediately restrained the student athlete involved and took necessary measures on site, and after the game we also conveyed our apology to the Gwangju Jeil High School baseball team."
Baejae High pledged to refer the student athlete involved to its student discipline committee for strict handling in accordance with school rules and procedures, and to conduct special education on sportsmanship, human rights sensitivity, community awareness, and athlete ethics for all members of the baseball team. It also stressed, "Using this incident as an opportunity, we will continuously carry out recurrence-prevention education to establish students' historical awareness, respect for others, and a proper cheering culture, and we will do our utmost to ensure the same thing never happens again."
The Starbucks event in question took place on the 18th of last month. In a tumbler sales event, Starbucks emphasized the phrase "Tank Day" along with the date "5/18" and also used the expression "tapping the desk." Critics said this evoked the entry of martial law forces' tanks into downtown Gwangju during the May 18 Democratization Movement and the explanation given by investigative authorities during the 1987 torture death of the late Park Jong-chul. Starbucks issued a public apology.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association plans to convene its Sports Fair Play Committee to decide on disciplinary action. The association stipulates that under its rules, it can impose disciplinary measures for cases that severely damage one's dignity as an athlete and for disorderly conduct occurring during a competition. Disciplinary measures against players are divided into reprimand, suspension from competition, suspension of eligibility, and expulsion. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is also reviewing an investigation into Baejae High.
