Is the 'May 18 hate cheer' incident a conservative-progressive issue?

A fringe group calling itself the 'Student Parents Teacher Human Rights Protection Alliance' held a press conference to defend a high school baseball team's use of "May 18 hate cheers." The group, described as having far-right leanings, convened outside the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to shield the Baejae High School baseball team from consequences.

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It is difficult to see the slogans of minor students as malicious. Some media and specific groups are continuing excessive witch-hunting targeting minor students.

The alliance argued that the minors' slogans were "not malicious" and accused unspecified media outlets and groups of engaging in a "witch-hunt" against the students. They demanded an immediate halt to the "witch-hunting and human rights violations" against the students and called for the cancellation of a six-month suspension imposed on the baseball team. The group also claimed that some media and specific groups were excessively targeting the underage students.

However, the article vehemently condemns the "hate cheers," labeling them "low and despicable mockery" aimed at opposing players. It dismisses the alliance's defense as "sophistry," questioning how the slogans, such as "Tank Day" and "Starbucks, let's go," could be anything but hateful, especially given the historical context of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, during which students from Gwangju Jeil High School were injured resisting martial law forces.

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The slogans 'Tank Day' and 'Starbucks, let's go' are not cheers but low and despicable mockery targeting opposing players.

The article criticizes the alliance for supporting participants in the "Seobu District Riot Incident" and notes that a conservative group, the 'Common People's Livelihood Stabilization Committee,' filed a complaint against the Korea Baseball Softball Association for "obstruction of business." This conservative group argued that the suspension unfairly jeopardized the future careers of key players. The article stresses that even minors should understand basic reasoning and that athletes must uphold sportsmanship, holding those who use hateful expressions accountable.

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Even if they are minors, high school students can distinguish right from wrong. The fact that Baejae High School players specifically shouted 'Starbucks' and 'Tank Day' during the game against Gwangju Jeil High School means they knew this was an expression of hatred towards the May 18 Gwangju Uprising.

It also assigns significant blame to the coaches and umpires who failed to stop the students, stating they must also be held responsible. While acknowledging the possibility of giving the Baejae High School students a chance to redeem themselves, the article insists that this must be preceded by a sincere apology and reflection directed at the Gwangju Jeil High School students. The planned visit by Baejae High School representatives to Gwangju Jeil High School and the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery is seen as a positive step, but the broader society must work to ensure such hateful acts are eradicated from school settings.

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Even if they did not know the historical meaning of May 18, athletes must observe sportsmanship that respects opponents. It is natural to be held responsible for mocking opponents with hateful expressions.