Paichai High appeals suspension over Starbucks chant, review could come this month
If the appeal is successful, the team could potentially be cleared to play in the Aug. 6 national tournament.
Paichai High School's baseball field in Gangdong DIstrict, eastern Seoul, is empty on July 8.
YONHAP
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee received an appeal from Paichai High School baseball team against its six-month competition ban, a move that could allow the team to compete in an upcoming national tournament if the penalty is reduced.
The appeal could be reviewed during the upcoming Sports Fairness Committee meeting around end of July at the earliest.
"The date for the next committee meeting has not yet been finalized, but it is expected to be held at the end of this month," a source from the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee told Yonhap on Wednesday.
"A disciplinary review subcommittee will meet before the Sports Fairness Committee convenes, and it will decide whether Paichai High's appeal should be placed on the agenda for the committee's meeting at the end of this month," official added.
However, the source said that it remains uncertain whether the appeal will be reviewed this month because the committee already has numerous cases to discuss.
Under committee regulations, the Sports Fairness Committee serves as the final appellate body for disciplinary actions imposed by affiliated organizations. It needs to reach a decision on the day of deliberation, and any revised disciplinary measure takes effect immediately after the committee's decision.
If the committee reviews the case at its meeting this month and reduces the punishment, such as replacing the competition ban with a warning, Paichai High would become eligible to compete in the 54th Bonghwang National High School Baseball Tournament. The competition is set to start on Aug. 6. It does not require regional qualifying rounds and is considered important to third-year students because it provides a major opportunity to impress college recruiters.
A six-month competition ban was imposed on Paichai High's baseball team on July 1 after the players came under fire for chanting "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" during an 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship game against Gwangju Jeil High School on June 29. The team was also forfeit from remaining games in the baseball championship.
The chants sparked controversy for referencing Starbucks Korea's recent "Tank Day" promotion. The promotional event coincided with the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and drew criticism for using phrases that allegedly mocked the movement.
Following the ban, Paichai High players and school officials visited Gwangju Jeil High School to apologize in person. On Tuesday, Gwangju Jeil High principal Lee Kyu-yeon also issued a statement calling for leniency.
BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
