Alumni Ask Baseball Body to Reconsider Six-Month Ban on Pai Chai Team After Forfeiting Tournament Games

The alumni association for Pai Chai High School asked the Korea Baseball Softball Association on July 3 to reconsider a six-month suspension imposed on the school's baseball team. " toward opponents from Gwangju Jeil High School during a first-round game at the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship on June 29.

The phrases referenced a May 18 Starbucks Korea promotion that offered discounts on "Tank" tumbler sets and drew criticism for evoking the military suppression of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising and the 1987 death of student activist Park Jong-cheol.

Kim Dong-yeon, president of the alumni association, read a statement at the KBSA headquarters in Seoul. The statement said the association believes it is important to give the students a chance to learn from their mistakes and become better people. It added that the appeal was made from the perspective of parents and asked the KBSA to consider the students' futures and show mercy.

The suspension took effect immediately, and Pai Chai forfeited its remaining games in the tournament. The KBSA said it will hold separate disciplinary proceedings later for the team's coaches and individual players. Kim said alumni had considered holding a press conference outside the KBSA headquarters but decided against it after parents of the players opposed the idea.

The parents stated that an apology had to come first and that alumni action risked distorting their intent. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced later on July 3 that all 36 members of the Pai Chai baseball team and their parents will visit Gwangju Jeil High School on July 6 to apologize in person, accompanied by a few teachers.