'Regional Insult Controversy' Sharp Extra-Field Confrontation in Front of Baejae High School Gate Finally Halted by Forced Removal

*This content was translated by AI.

The fierce extra-field confrontation at the gate of Baejae High School, which had become controversial due to regional-insulting cheer slogans, came to a halt with the forced removal of the mourning wreaths.

According to NEWSIS, Seoul Gangdong District Office on the 2nd afternoon, based on Article 74 of the Road Act, removed all illegal installations in front of Baejae High School, including the mourning wreaths.

The controversy originated from cheer slogans that emerged during the match between Baejae High School and Gwangju Ilgo High School held at Seoul Mokdong Baseball Stadium on the 29th of last month as part of the 81st Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League King of Kings Tournament first round. At that time, Baejae High School players repeatedly chanted "Go, go, Starbucks, go" toward Gwangju Ilgo players. During this process, cries of "Tank Day" were also heard.

The slogan is related to the controversy over Starbucks Korea's 'Tank Day' marketing campaign held on the 18th, the anniversary of the the 18th Democratic Uprising. On-site officials, including KBO club scouts, perceived it as an obvious regional-insulting mockery.

Civil society expressed its stance on this controversy by sending mourning wreaths to Baejae High School. The day after the incident, on June 30, a mourning wreath bearing the inscription "Democracy is too much for citizens who insult the democratic movement" was erected. As the Baejae High School controversy spread to the education sector and political circles, escalating the situation, the number of mourning wreaths gradually increased.

The critical wreaths carried messages such as "We mourn the closure of Baejae High School" and "Ban exclusion from professional baseball recruitment." There were also numerous supportive wreaths with slogans like "Children, do not be discouraged; you are a source of pride. Let's cheer up, Baejae High School," and "Supporting the spirit of freedom at Baejae Academy. Rejecting the pollution of sports by denying the 18th."

Unidentified printed materials with messages such as "My sons, do not be hurt by seeing such trash; you are our future. Mom will protect you" were also attached to the ground. When some citizens damaged the wreaths, Baejae High School even hung a sign saying "Please respect us."

However, the continued relay of mourning wreaths and excessive attention threatened the safety of Baejae High School students and ordinary citizens. Consequently, the jurisdictional Gangdong District Office, based on Article 74, Paragraph 1 of the Road Act (Special Provisions on the Application of Administrative Substitution), forcibly removed the wreaths.

Article 74, Paragraph 1 of the Road Act states: "When a road management authority finds it difficult to achieve its purpose through the procedures prescribed in Article 3, Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Administrative Substitution Act for any of the following cases, it may remove deposited objects on the road or take other necessary measures without going through those procedures." Among these, it falls under item 2: "When there is a need to promptly implement necessary measures to ensure traffic flow and safety on the road."

Meanwhile, the Baejae High School baseball team received a six-month suspension from participating in national tournaments from the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) Sports Korea Fair Trade Commission, which held an emergency meeting on the previous day (the 1st). The penalty took effect starting from the second round of the Cheongryonggi Tournament on the 2nd, and Baejae High School's match was ruled a forfeit loss. However, regarding disciplinary actions against coaches and players, it was judged that further deliberation is necessary, so a thorough investigation will be conducted during the suspension period. It was decided to convene the Sports Korea Fair Trade Commission again within the specified period to identify specific individuals and deliberate on their cases.

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*This content was translated by AI.