People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk has drawn criticism for sending a support wreath to Baejai High School the day before the school was set to visit Gwangju Ilgo High School to apologize, with observers saying she is taking sides and inflaming the conflict rather than helping resolve it.
Lee posted a photo of the wreath on Facebook on Saturday, saying she had sent it to Baejai High. "The ribbon reads: 'What does Starbucks have to do with May 18?' and 'We stand with the students of Baejai High,'" she wrote.
Lee argued that if Starbucks were truly a symbol of contempt for the May 18 Democratic Uprising and Gwangju, the chain should no longer be allowed to operate. She also contended that disciplining Baejai High's baseball players — on the assumption by "democratic forces" that the chant "Let's go to Starbucks" constituted an insult to Gwangju and May 18 — would amount to "putting handcuffs on thought."
Lee added that before she was effectively dismissed as chair of the Korea Communications Commission, many citizens had sent wreaths to the commission's building in Gwacheon to encourage her. "I wanted to give a little strength to the Baejai High students, who may be gripped by fear," she said. "They are the next generation — the ones who will defend liberal democracy."
Online reactions were divided. One user criticized Lee, writing: "If 'Let's go to Starbucks' was not intended to mock May 18, why did the Baejai players use it during that game? Why can't Lee Jin-suk understand what everyone else already does?" Another sympathized with her position, writing: "Just as with the Starbucks controversy, an overreaction creates a backlash. A six-month suspension for everyone was too harsh."
Some commenters said Lee was deepening the rift rather than helping to heal it. "They're going to apologize on Monday, and she's out here picking a fight," one user wrote. "This drags not only Gwangju Ilgo students but also Baejai High students into a political conflict." Another wrote: "It's in her interest for the kids to keep fighting."
Meanwhile, about 80 people — including Baejai High baseball players, the school principal, faculty and parents — are scheduled to visit Gwangju Ilgo in Buk-gu's Numun-dong on Monday at 3 p.m. During a 30-minute exchange between the two schools, the Baejai students are expected to deliver a formal apology to the Gwangju Ilgo students who were affected. The group will then visit the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery, where victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising are interred.
Ahead of the visit, Gwangju Ilgo asked police on Thursday to protect the school grounds in case of large crowds. Police said they would deploy dozens of officers near the school to prepare for any unexpected incidents or clashes.
On Friday, a threatening post appeared in an online community claiming that an explosive device had been planted at Gwangju Ilgo, prompting police and fire department officials to conduct a search. No explosive was found.
The controversy began when Baejai High baseball players chanted "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" — phrases widely seen as mocking the May 18 Democratic Uprising — during a game against Gwangju Ilgo at Seoul's Mokdong Baseball Stadium on June 29 at the 81st Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Finals.
paq@heraldcorp.com
