Baejae High School Baseball Team Ban Reduced, Allowed to Compete

The disciplinary committee of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation has reduced Baejae High School's baseball team's ban from six months to one month. This decision allows the team to participate in the upcoming 54th Bonghwangdaegi National High School Baseball Tournament, scheduled to begin on August 7.

The team initially received a six-month suspension from the Korea Baseball Softball Association for chanting slogans that disparaged the May 18th Democratic Uprising during a game. The controversial chants, including phrases like 'Let's go to Starbucks' and 'Tank Day,' sparked regional discrimination accusations.

Following the incident, Baejae High School officials, including the principal and parents, visited the opposing team, Gwangju Jeil High School, to apologize. They also paid respects at the National 5.18 Cemetery. The sports committee cited the students' apology in Gwangju and the victims' plea for leniency as factors in their decision to reduce the penalty.

The original six-month ban, effective from July 1, would have ended on July 31. With the reduced sentence, the team is set to play its first game against Incheon High School on August 11 at Mokdong Baseball Stadium.