'They can reflect on their mistakes and grow into better people'

Kim Dong-yeon, president of the Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association, answers reporters' questions after submitting a clemency petition on behalf of Paichai High School students at Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. The petition relates to the controversy over a chant condemned as mocking Gwangju. [Yonhap]
Kim Dong-yeon, president of the Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association, answers reporters' questions after submitting a clemency petition on behalf of Paichai High School students at Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. The petition relates to the controversy over a chant condemned as mocking Gwangju. [Yonhap]

The Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association has submitted a clemency petition to the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA), which banned the Paichai High School baseball team from national tournaments for six months over a chant widely condemned as mocking the Gwangju region.

Kim Dong-yeon, the 39th president of the Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association, visited the lobby of Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday and placed the petition in the KBSA's mailbox.

Kim Dong-yeon, president of the Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association, deposits a clemency petition into the Korea Baseball Softball Association's mailbox at Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. The petition concerns the controversy over a chant by Paichai High School students condemned as mocking Gwangju. [Yonhap]
Kim Dong-yeon, president of the Paichai Hakdang Alumni Association, deposits a clemency petition into the Korea Baseball Softball Association's mailbox at Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. The petition concerns the controversy over a chant by Paichai High School students condemned as mocking Gwangju. [Yonhap]

"I sincerely and repeatedly apologize to the student athletes and alumni of Gwangju Jeil High School who were hurt by what happened at the Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship," Kim said. "Our juniors are still students in the process of learning and growing. I believe it is precious to give them the chance to recognize their mistakes, reflect on them, and grow into better people."

He added that he was earnestly asking the association to show leniency "so that this one experience can become a lifelong lesson and help them grow into more mature individuals."

The alumni association had planned to hold a press conference in front of the KBSA offices at 11 a.m. Thursday, but canceled it after consulting with the players' parents and other parties involved, opting instead to deliver only the petition.

The players' parents did not join in submitting the petition, according to sources.

Kim told Yonhap News Agency that the parents had said "it would be proper for them to first admit the wrongdoing and seek forgiveness themselves, and that if the alumni association stepped forward first, the intent could be misconstrued."

Asked whether he considered the six-month ban a severe punishment, Kim said he did not think it was his place to judge the disciplinary decision, adding that he felt it was right, "as a sunbae and as the alumni association president, to appeal for leniency."

He said it was difficult to assign direct responsibility at this point, but added, "Our juniors did wrong, but I also think there are parts that adults must take responsibility for."

The incident occurred June 29 at Mokdong Baseball Stadium during the 81st Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Finals between Paichai High School and Gwangju Jeil High School. Some Paichai players chanted "Gaya ji, gaya ji, Starbucks gaya ji" ("Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks") toward the opposing dugout, while one player shouted "Tank Day." The chants drew widespread criticism as an allusion to Starbucks Korea's "May 18 Tank Day" promotional event, which had itself sparked a backlash, with critics saying the players were mocking the Gwangju region and ridiculing the pro-democracy movement.

The KBSA convened its Sports Fair Play Committee on Tuesday and, after deliberating on the Paichai baseball team's use of inappropriate chants, handed down a six-month ban from national competitions. The association also said it would conduct a thorough investigation during the suspension period to identify specific individuals involved and reconvene the committee within that time.

To stamp out inappropriate chanting at games and prevent a recurrence, the KBSA said it would revise its regulations — including making it mandatory for managers to be briefed on the prohibition of inappropriate cheering behavior during home plate meetings before the start of play at all future tournaments.


jshan@heraldcorp.com