“The core value of the May spirit lies in inclusion, not exclusion. Since the students are genuinely reflecting and repenting, they should be given another chance.”
On July 9, the 5.18 three organizations (the Association of Victims' Families, the Association of the Injured, and the Association of Contributors) and the 5.18 Memorial Foundation held a press conference at the 5.18 Memorial Cultural Center in Gwangju, South Korea, urging leniency for the baseball team from Baejae High School, which received a six-month suspension for chanting a mocking cheer related to the May 18 incident.
The organizations stated, “We ask that the heartfelt reflection and willingness to change shown by the Baejae High School baseball team be taken into account, allowing them to participate in the Phoenix Cup National High School Baseball Tournament.”
June 2026 illustrated the current state of South Korean society, reflecting a collective experience rather than that of individuals or a select few.
For instance, even during a baseball game, crises arise multiple times, and mistakes are made. What matters is how we navigate these crises and what we learn from our mistakes.
The Baejae High School baseball team drew public outrage after chanting “Let’s go to Starbucks,” a mocking cheer related to the May 18 incident, during a match against Gwangju Ilgo on June 29 at the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship. The Korea Baseball Softball Association held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting on July 1, deciding to forfeit Baejae High School's remaining games in the tournament and imposing a six-month suspension from national competitions.
All 36 members of the Baejae High School baseball team visited Gwangju Ilgo on July 6, just a week after the incident, to sincerely apologize, and Gwangju Ilgo accepted their apology.
Team captain A stated, “I sincerely apologize to the players, parents, and citizens of Gwangju who were deeply hurt by our inappropriate remarks and actions.”
B, a representative from Gwangju Ilgo, reflected, “This has made us reconsider whether we have also hurt other teams. We hope an environment is created where such mocking and derogatory cheers do not occur again.”
Lee Gyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Ilgo, remarked, “I hope the roles of students and adults are clearly defined. It is the responsibility of adults to guide children correctly,” adding that he is also reflecting on his own actions in light of this incident.
The government designated June as 'National Defense and Veterans Month' to honor the noble sacrifice of fallen heroes and to foster a sense of patriotism and national defense awareness among citizens. The events that unfolded at the end of June served as a moment to reflect on the role of veterans affairs.
One of the roles of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is to educate future generations about veterans' assets and historical awareness. One of the four strategies of the '6th Basic Plan for the Development of National Veterans Affairs,' which the ministry is implementing from this year until 2030, is 'A Veterans Culture Remembered Together with the People.' This includes initiatives to remember and inherit the spirit of independence, promote intergenerational integration of veterans culture, and expand the social role of veterans organizations.
The importance of education is a valuable lesson learned from this incident. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs operates exploration courses for middle and high school students and young people, providing various opportunities to experience veterans affairs directly, including a trip to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Shanghai Provisional Government. There is also a need to expand education using local memorial facilities.
Additionally, the ministry has established a 'Comprehensive Portal for Veterans Culture' to provide various materials related to veterans culture, including videos, exhibitions, and educational resources, which were previously scattered across its headquarters and affiliated organizations. This service has been available since May 11.
A small step in daily life can resonate greatly in veterans affairs. The 'Korea Memorial Festa,' held in early June at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul, utilized K-culture content such as music and food to make veterans affairs more accessible to future generations. It was notable that most attendees, primarily in their teens and twenties, engaged with veterans culture through performances and events. It is essential that various programs permeate daily life not only in June but throughout the year.
On July 9, the 5.18 three organizations (the Association of Victims' Families, the Association of the Injured, and the Association of Contributors) and the 5.18 Memorial Foundation held a press conference at the 5.18 Memorial Cultural Center in Gwangju, South Korea, urging leniency for the baseball team from Baejae High School, which received a six-month suspension for chanting a mocking cheer related to the May 18 incident.
The organizations stated, “We ask that the heartfelt reflection and willingness to change shown by the Baejae High School baseball team be taken into account, allowing them to participate in the Phoenix Cup National High School Baseball Tournament.”
June 2026 illustrated the current state of South Korean society, reflecting a collective experience rather than that of individuals or a select few.
For instance, even during a baseball game, crises arise multiple times, and mistakes are made. What matters is how we navigate these crises and what we learn from our mistakes.
The Baejae High School baseball team drew public outrage after chanting “Let’s go to Starbucks,” a mocking cheer related to the May 18 incident, during a match against Gwangju Ilgo on June 29 at the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship. The Korea Baseball Softball Association held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting on July 1, deciding to forfeit Baejae High School's remaining games in the tournament and imposing a six-month suspension from national competitions.
All 36 members of the Baejae High School baseball team visited Gwangju Ilgo on July 6, just a week after the incident, to sincerely apologize, and Gwangju Ilgo accepted their apology.
Team captain A stated, “I sincerely apologize to the players, parents, and citizens of Gwangju who were deeply hurt by our inappropriate remarks and actions.”
B, a representative from Gwangju Ilgo, reflected, “This has made us reconsider whether we have also hurt other teams. We hope an environment is created where such mocking and derogatory cheers do not occur again.”
Lee Gyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Ilgo, remarked, “I hope the roles of students and adults are clearly defined. It is the responsibility of adults to guide children correctly,” adding that he is also reflecting on his own actions in light of this incident.
The government designated June as 'National Defense and Veterans Month' to honor the noble sacrifice of fallen heroes and to foster a sense of patriotism and national defense awareness among citizens. The events that unfolded at the end of June served as a moment to reflect on the role of veterans affairs.
One of the roles of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is to educate future generations about veterans' assets and historical awareness. One of the four strategies of the '6th Basic Plan for the Development of National Veterans Affairs,' which the ministry is implementing from this year until 2030, is 'A Veterans Culture Remembered Together with the People.' This includes initiatives to remember and inherit the spirit of independence, promote intergenerational integration of veterans culture, and expand the social role of veterans organizations.
The importance of education is a valuable lesson learned from this incident. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs operates exploration courses for middle and high school students and young people, providing various opportunities to experience veterans affairs directly, including a trip to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Shanghai Provisional Government. There is also a need to expand education using local memorial facilities.
Additionally, the ministry has established a 'Comprehensive Portal for Veterans Culture' to provide various materials related to veterans culture, including videos, exhibitions, and educational resources, which were previously scattered across its headquarters and affiliated organizations. This service has been available since May 11.
A small step in daily life can resonate greatly in veterans affairs. The 'Korea Memorial Festa,' held in early June at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul, utilized K-culture content such as music and food to make veterans affairs more accessible to future generations. It was notable that most attendees, primarily in their teens and twenties, engaged with veterans culture through performances and events. It is essential that various programs permeate daily life not only in June but throughout the year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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