Entertainer Hong Seok-cheon urged a heartfelt apology amid the growing backlash over Paichai High School’s baseball team and their offensive cheering slogans at a recent high school tournament.
Posting a video to his Instagram on the 1st, Hong said, "I was honestly shocked when I saw the news. I thought, students shouldn’t be doing that," expressing dismay over the Paichai baseball team’s cheer controversy. He emphasized that a performative statement isn’t enough and pushed for sincere action instead.
Hong suggested, "Rather than the school releasing an apology and an explanation, it would be better if the baseball team students went down to Gwangju themselves, spoke with students at Gwangju Jeil High School, apologized, and then shared a warm meal made by Gwangju’s kind mothers before coming back. That’s the best way to apologize at their age. I believe Gwangju Jeil High School students will accept that apology."
The controversy erupted on June 29 at the 81st Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
Some Paichai players reportedly shouted slogans toward Gwangju Jeil High School’s dugout such as "Let’s go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day," drawing fierce criticism for mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement. Paichai High School issued an official apology afterward, but the outrage hasn’t died down.