Baejae High front gate turns into a scene of competing factions after baseball team controversy
School allows students to wear plain clothes for protection; 'I feel self-conscious,' one says
A controversy sparked by Baejae High School's baseball team shouting a "Starbucks" chant has escalated into an adults' quarrel, turning the school into a chaotic scene of competing factions.
Funeral wreaths bearing the message "Democracy is too good for citizens who insult the pro-democracy movement" began appearing in front of the school's main gate shortly after the controversy broke out. What started as fewer than 10 wreaths — most of them critical of the school — swelled to about 70 within a single day, and counter-wreaths defending the school soon followed.
When a reporter visited Baejae High School's main gate in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on Friday morning, only six wreaths of encouragement remained standing. No critical wreaths were visible at the gate at that time. The wreaths carried messages such as "Hang in there, juniors," "You are the light of the world," "An adult who threatens the future is no true adult," "Don't silence the people," and "Go, Baejae High baseball team."
Supportive messages printed on A4 sheets of paper were also attached to the iron school fence to the right of the wreaths, urging students not to feel intimidated and telling them they had done nothing wrong. A notice from the Gangdong-gu district office warning against illegally placed objects was also posted on the sidewalk.
'I feel self-conscious wearing plain clothes' — regular students caught in the crossfire
As the school's front gate turned into an "adults' wreath battleground," the fallout landed squarely on the students themselves. Those arriving for class Friday morning kept their heads down, barely glancing at the wreaths as they hurried inside. About one in two students was in plain clothes, following a school directive allowing the option.
A second-year student, identified only as A, who came to school in plain clothes, said the school had announced that students could wear plain clothes for their protection. "I heard it runs from yesterday through the 20th," he said. "Because of the baseball team controversy, the school's image is what it is, and I just feel self-conscious — that's why I wore plain clothes."
A said he had not been directly attacked but said the online reaction weighed on him. "I do think about it, honestly," he said. "When I see hostile comments online, I think, 'Not all Baejae students are like that' — but I feel like there's nothing I can do."
A third-year student, identified as B, also said he wore plain clothes because he felt self-conscious. "Frankly, there are so many harsh things being said online about Baejae students, and it makes me feel bad," he said. A school official said one citizen who had come to place supportive wreaths flipped all the funeral wreaths upside down, prompting school staff to turn them back. The Gangdong-gu district office had removed the wreaths on Thursday, citing violations of road law and concerns about pedestrian safety.
The controversy began June 29, when some players on the Baejae High baseball team shouted "Let's go to Starbucks!" toward the opposing team's dugout during a game against Gwangju Ilgo at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul, as part of the 81st Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Finals. The chant drew criticism as it was seen as mocking the May 18 pro-democracy uprising, coming amid a separate controversy over Starbucks Korea's so-called "May 18 Tank Day" promotional event.
Disciplinary proceedings underway; educators call for educational approach
Baejae High has referred the two students who led the chant to its student life education committee and is considering referring additional students who joined in.
Educators have called for an educational rather than punitive response to the incident, expressing commitment to strengthening history and civic education. Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik said Thursday on Facebook that the office had directed all school sports teams in Seoul to conduct emergency education sessions aimed at eliminating discriminatory and hateful expressions and fostering a healthy cheering culture. "We will strengthen human rights education, sports ethics education, and historical awareness education — not only for student athletes but also for coaches," he said.
However, Jeong cautioned that personal attacks on individual students and the spread of excessive criticism must be kept in check, saying accountability must be pursued within the principles and procedures of education. "It will be the role of education to help students reflect on their actions and grow again through learning," he added.
Meanwhile, the controversy has spread beyond the school gates into the political arena and civil society, with competing complaints filed with authorities. The Korea Baseball Softball Association handed the Baejae High baseball team a six-month ban from national competitions. Conservative civic groups, calling the punishment excessive, have filed complaints against association officials in response.
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