Baekjae High School baseball team sanction cut after 5·18 chant controversy; civic education criticized

Seoul's Baekjae High School baseball team faced a six‑month suspension after players shouted chants such as “Starbucks 가야지” that mocked the 5·18 Gwangju democratization movement during a match against Gwangju Jeil High School. The Korean Sports Fair Committee later reduced the penalty to a one‑month ban, allowing the team to compete in the upcoming national tournament.

In response to the incident, the school organized a two‑hour civic‑education session led by Democracy Movement Memorial director Lee Jae‑oh. Several students later reported that almost all of them fell asleep during the lecture, with only two remaining awake. They said the program offered only a brief admonition against hate speech without explaining its nature or why it is harmful.

Police investigations into the chant incident were dropped after the victim school declined to pursue charges. Baekjae officials publicly apologized, visited the affected school, and paid respects at the National 5·18 Memorial. Online commentary was split between criticism of the school’s handling and claims that the disciplinary measures were excessive.