5·18 groups urge leniency for Baejae High; call for government action on hate speech

Commemoration groups for the May 18th Democratic Uprising in South Korea have appealed for leniency for the Baejae High School baseball team, which faced sanctions after a controversial incident involving a "Starbucks cheer." The groups, representing victims, the injured, and contributors to the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, stated they have observed the students' genuine reflection and regret.

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We have watched the sincere reflection and attitude of repentance shown by the Baejae High students recently. The courage to face past mistakes and correct them is proof that they accept history not as a record frozen in the past, but as a responsibility for all of us living in the present.

"We have watched the sincere reflection and attitude of repentance shown by the Baejae High students recently. The courage to face past mistakes and correct them is proof that they accept history not as a record frozen in the past, but as a responsibility for all of us living in the present," the 5.18 groups said in a press conference. They emphasized that the core spirit of the 5.18 movement is "inclusion, not exclusion."

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The core spirit of the 5.18 movement is 'inclusion, not exclusion.'

The groups welcomed the Baejae students as "partners for the future" and expressed hope that this experience would lead them to deeply understand the noble values of 5.18, becoming agents of healing social conflict and fostering harmony. They formally requested the Sports Fair Committee of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to show leniency, allowing the team to participate in the 54th Phoenix Flag National High School Baseball Championship.

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We welcome you (Baejae High) as partners for the future. We hope that through this incident, you will deeply understand the noble values of 5.18 and grow into key figures who heal social conflicts and lead harmony in our society.

Previously, the Korea Baseball Softball Association's Sports Fair Committee had suspended Baejae High for six months and forfeited their remaining games in the Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship. Following the team's apology visit to Gwangju and a similar request for leniency from the principal and alumni association of Gwangju Jeil High School, Baejae High applied for a rehearing. The incident has also spurred discussions on addressing "hate play," with experts calling for a government-level response to combat hate speech in public spaces like sports arenas.

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We request that you make a wise and warm judgment so that they can participate in the 54th Phoenix Flag National High School Baseball Championship, fully considering their sincere reflection and willingness to change.