Lee Jin-sook, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, recently sent a supportive wreath to the Baejae High School baseball team, which has faced backlash for comments made during a game against Gwangju High School. The comments included the phrase "We should go to Starbucks," which sparked controversy. In response, Jung Kyung-won, a professor at Dongyang University, criticized her actions, asking, "What is so commendable about that?"
On July 5, Lee shared a photo of the wreath on her social media, stating, "Will the Yoon Seok-youl administration put handcuffs on our thoughts?" The wreath featured the message, "What does Starbucks have to do with May 18?"
Lee further questioned, "Can someone explain how Starbucks is related to the insult of May 18? If Starbucks symbolizes an insult to May 18 and Gwangju, then it should no longer operate." She added that if the so-called "democratic forces" conclude that the phrase "We should go to Starbucks" is an insult to May 18 and discipline the Baejae baseball team, it would be akin to putting handcuffs on their thoughts.
Lee also referenced Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin, who in 2019 referred to the assassination of former President Park Chung-hee as "Tank Day," and YouTube host Choi Wook, who suggested, "We should crush them with tanks." She remarked, "In a world where it is acceptable for an education minister to call the day a president was assassinated 'Tank Day,' and where a leftist can say 'We should crush them with tanks,' we have a problem."
Following Lee's remarks, Professor Jung took to social media to express his disapproval, stating, "Lee Jin-sook sent a wreath to Baejae High School. What is so commendable about that?"
The controversy also involved a recent incident where a member of the girl group Lasseine used a regional dialect phrase that was deemed offensive, prompting Professor Jung to comment, "Are you satisfied with sacrificing a young idol star on the altar of May 18? Is that truly the country the spirits of May 18 desired?" He urged moderation in such discussions.
Previously, Lee Byung-tae, vice-chairman of the Presidential Regulatory Reform Committee, labeled the baseball team's comments as hate speech, stating, "May 18 has become a sanctuary," and likened the situation to North Korea.
Writer and broadcaster Heo Ji-woong also criticized Lee Byung-tae's comments, calling them "ugly" and asserting that the remarks made by the Baejae baseball team were indeed hate speech. He described Lee Byung-tae's comments as promoting hate and called for accountability and legislative measures to silence such rhetoric from public officials and politicians.
The Baejae baseball team faced backlash after players made comments such as "We should go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" during a match on June 29, leading to accusations of belittling the May 18 incident. In response to the outcry, the school issued an apology and imposed a six-month suspension on the baseball team.
As the controversy continues, around 80 individuals, including faculty, coaches, student-athletes, and parents from Baejae High School, are scheduled to visit Gwangju Ilgo on July 6 to apologize and pay respects at the May 18 cemetery.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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