The Baejae High School baseball team, involved in a recent controversy over derogatory remarks about the May 18 Democratic Movement, visited Gwangju to express their remorse. Eight days after the incident, the delegation of students, coaches, and staff conveyed their deep regret and committed to preventing future occurrences during their visit to Gwangju Ilgo.
The 86-member delegation, which included the principal, coaches, student-athletes, parents, and officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, arrived at Gwangju Ilgo at 3 p.m. on July 6 to deliver an official apology and pay respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery.
During a reconciliation session between the two schools, representatives from Baejae High School read prepared statements expressing their heartfelt remorse.
The team captain stated, "I sincerely apologize to the players, parents, and citizens of Gwangju who were deeply hurt by our inappropriate remarks and actions in a place that should embody dreams and hope."
He added, "This incident has made all of us, including myself, reflect deeply. We have realized how important character and attitude are in life, beyond just baseball. I will strive to live with a mindset of continuous reflection."
The head coach also expressed a heavy sense of responsibility, stating, "The derogatory cheers are inexcusable, and I bear the greatest responsibility for failing to teach this properly as a coach."
He continued, "Saying that I couldn't stop the inappropriate cheers because I was focused solely on winning is merely an excuse. I acknowledge my mistakes and promise to fulfill my responsibilities as a coach to ensure this does not happen again."
The school administration emphasized that this incident would not be dismissed as an individual lapse. In a statement from the staff, they noted, "We view this incident as a serious case stemming from a total collapse of ethical and historical awareness, not just a simple mistake or deviation. We take this matter very seriously."
They expressed their shame and regret for using derogatory slogans that tarnished the spirit of sports and were linked to the May 18 Democratic Movement, stating, "We are conducting an internal investigation and disciplinary procedures to ensure such incidents do not recur, and we will strive to create an educational community that values consideration and solidarity rather than mockery."
After reading the apology, the Baejae delegation moved to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery at 4 p.m. Accompanying them were Jeong Geun-sik, the Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and Kim Dae-jung, the Superintendent of Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, who shared a commitment to resolving the situation and fostering a proper historical understanding among students.
In light of this incident, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to conduct extensive visits and inspections of all school sports teams in the area by August 21 to reinforce students' rights and ethical awareness. Additionally, they will promptly implement education on history and discrimination prevention for all Baejae High School students starting after July 8.
The 86-member delegation, which included the principal, coaches, student-athletes, parents, and officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, arrived at Gwangju Ilgo at 3 p.m. on July 6 to deliver an official apology and pay respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery.
During a reconciliation session between the two schools, representatives from Baejae High School read prepared statements expressing their heartfelt remorse.
The team captain stated, "I sincerely apologize to the players, parents, and citizens of Gwangju who were deeply hurt by our inappropriate remarks and actions in a place that should embody dreams and hope."
He added, "This incident has made all of us, including myself, reflect deeply. We have realized how important character and attitude are in life, beyond just baseball. I will strive to live with a mindset of continuous reflection."
The head coach also expressed a heavy sense of responsibility, stating, "The derogatory cheers are inexcusable, and I bear the greatest responsibility for failing to teach this properly as a coach."
He continued, "Saying that I couldn't stop the inappropriate cheers because I was focused solely on winning is merely an excuse. I acknowledge my mistakes and promise to fulfill my responsibilities as a coach to ensure this does not happen again."
The school administration emphasized that this incident would not be dismissed as an individual lapse. In a statement from the staff, they noted, "We view this incident as a serious case stemming from a total collapse of ethical and historical awareness, not just a simple mistake or deviation. We take this matter very seriously."
They expressed their shame and regret for using derogatory slogans that tarnished the spirit of sports and were linked to the May 18 Democratic Movement, stating, "We are conducting an internal investigation and disciplinary procedures to ensure such incidents do not recur, and we will strive to create an educational community that values consideration and solidarity rather than mockery."
After reading the apology, the Baejae delegation moved to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery at 4 p.m. Accompanying them were Jeong Geun-sik, the Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and Kim Dae-jung, the Superintendent of Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, who shared a commitment to resolving the situation and fostering a proper historical understanding among students.
In light of this incident, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to conduct extensive visits and inspections of all school sports teams in the area by August 21 to reinforce students' rights and ethical awareness. Additionally, they will promptly implement education on history and discrimination prevention for all Baejae High School students starting after July 8.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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