Gwangju First High School and Baejae High School Apologize and Visit 5·18 Democratic Cemetery

Around 80 members of Seoul's Baejae High School baseball team, coaches, parents and staff will travel to Gwangju First High School on 6 May to apologise for a chant used during a recent high‑school baseball match that mocked the 5·18 democratisation movement. The chant, referencing “Starbucks” and “Tank Day”, was condemned as a disrespectful tribute to the June 1987 protests. After a half‑hour of apology and reconciliation at Gwangju First’s auditorium, the two schools will jointly visit the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery. Former Gwangju education superintendent Kim Dae‑jung and Seoul education superintendent Jeong Geun‑sik will accompany the students. School officials said the visit aims to reinforce democratic citizenship and heal the hurt caused by the inappropriate chant.