Baejae High players apologize for mocking Gwangju Uprising

Players from Baejae High School visited Gwangju Jeil High School on June 6 to offer a sincere apology for remarks made during a recent baseball game that were widely criticized as mocking the May 18th Gwangju Democratization Movement. The visit, occurring exactly one week after the incident, saw about 80 individuals, including players, faculty, and parents from Baejae High, directly express remorse to the affected students at Gwangju Jeil High.

During the game, players from Baejae High allegedly shouted phrases like "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day," which were interpreted as disrespectful and mocking of the tragic historical event. The apology ceremony took place in the auditorium of Gwangju Jeil High, where the team captain of Baejae High took the microphone. "All of us on the team, including myself, are truly reflecting on this incident," he stated. "We have caused significant emotional damage to the Gwangju Jeil High players, and as fellow athletes, we committed actions that should never have been done, causing immense pain. We sincerely apologize."

The head coach and principal of Baejae High also delivered heartfelt apologies. Lee Gyu-yeon, the principal of Gwangju Jeil High, responded, calling it "a moment of genuine forgiveness and reconciliation." He added, "I believe this marks the first step toward forgiveness and a new beginning." Following the apology, the Baejae High delegation proceeded to the National 5·18 Cemetery to pay their respects to the victims of the Gwangju Uprising, a moment described as deeply moving after a week of anxiety and frustration.

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All of us on the team, including myself, are truly reflecting on this incident. We have caused significant emotional damage to the Gwangju Jeil High players, and as fellow athletes, we committed actions that should never have been done, causing immense pain. We sincerely apologize.

However, the article stresses that this apology and visit are merely a starting point. It highlights that the culture of denying tragic history and harboring contempt for socially vulnerable groups is not confined to the Baejae High baseball team. The piece traces the roots of such hateful rhetoric back to the post-Lee Myung-bak administration, where extreme right-wing online communities began fostering animosity towards former President Roh Moo-hyun, the Honam region, and democratization forces. This has since expanded into widespread contempt and discrimination against various marginalized groups, including women, the disabled, and migrant workers, among teenagers.

The article criticizes the inadequacy of current educational efforts, noting that even with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's annual "Democratic Citizen Education" programs, it is difficult to correct deeply ingrained hateful attitudes that have become part of peer culture. It calls for the Ministry of Education to develop comprehensive and systematic measures for continuous education on hate speech, integrated into daily school life rather than confined to specific class times. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to restore the authority and professional autonomy of teachers, empowering them to guide students responsibly.

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a moment of genuine forgiveness and reconciliation. I believe this marks the first step toward forgiveness and a new beginning.