On June 29, during the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul, some players from Baejae High School shouted "Let's go to Starbucks" towards the dugout of Gwangju Ilgo.
This remark was interpreted as a mockery of the opposing team, reminiscent of the recent controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea's '5.18 Tank Day' event.
Gwangju Ilgo immediately protested to the umpires, who issued a warning to Baejae High School. Gwangju Ilgo's head coach, Jo Yoon-chae, stated after the game, "It was a situation where our players could be hurt by the opposing team's incomprehensible mockery," and he reported the incident to the Korea Baseball Softball Association.
In response, Baejae High School quickly issued an apology. Head coach Kwon Oh-young expressed, "As an adult, I feel responsible for the players' inappropriate behavior," adding that he contacted Coach Jo immediately after the game to apologize. He also mentioned that the school is considering follow-up measures and will enhance education to prevent a recurrence.
The Korea Baseball Softball Association plans to determine whether disciplinary action is necessary through its Sports Fairness Committee. The association stated it will conduct an internal investigation and review the management responsibilities of the team.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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