Opposition Says Pai Chai High School Baseball Team’s 6-Month Disciplinary Action Is “Excessive”

Major opposition politicians said on the 1st that while the students’ behavior was wrong, the level of punishment was excessive regarding the sixmonth suspension from competition imposed on Baejae High School’s baseball team. The controversy began when some Baejae High School players shouted, “You should go to Starbucks,” toward Gwangju Jeil High School at the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship held last month on the 29th at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul. The remark drew criticism for belittling the May 18 Democratic Uprising, as it reminded people of the controversy over Starbucks Korea’s “May 18 Tank Day” event. People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jinseok pointed out that the students’ mockery was inappropriate, but said that imposing a sixmonth suspension on the entire Baejae High School baseball team was excessive. Independent lawmaker Han Donghoon and New Reform Party leader Lee Junseok also requested reconsideration of the punishment for similar reasons.