Democratic Party calls out 'immature' PPP lawmaker over Baejaego floral tribute

The Democratic Party of Korea urged People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk on Monday to stop stoking factional conflict, calling her "immature" for sending a supportive floral wreath to Baejaego just as tensions over the school dispute were being resolved.

Democratic Party spokesperson Park Gyeong-mi said in a written briefing Monday that the baseball team members, school leadership and parents at Baejaego had acknowledged the weight and wrongfulness of their actions, visiting Gwangju Ilgo on Monday to bow in apology. She added that students from both schools then joined hands and paid their respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. "I pay tribute to the courage Baejaego showed in admitting its wrongdoing and taking responsibility, and to the generosity of the Gwangju Ilgo community in accepting that apology," Park said.

Park then turned her criticism directly at Lee, saying that even as the educational resolution process for the Baejaego incident proceeded calmly, some within the People Power Party were trying to turn it into a political dispute. She called Lee's decision to send a floral wreath to Baejaego "highly inappropriate" and said it cast doubt on "even the most basic sense of historical awareness."

"I express strong regret over whether a National Assembly member — who has a responsibility to mediate conflict and heal wounds — is using the Baejaego incident as a spark to rally their support base," Park said.

She urged that attempts to turn an educational issue into a political controversy must stop. What politicians representing the public should do, she said, is not send floral wreaths to inflame factional conflict, but watch over and support the situation so it becomes a meaningful opportunity for students to learn the values of democracy and mutual respect.

"The People Power Party should look upon the children's mature steps with shame and reflect on itself," she added.

The dispute began June 29, when Baejaego baseball players chanted "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks" toward the Gwangju Ilgo dugout during the 81st Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Tournament, with one player also shouting "Tank Day" — remarks that sparked accusations of regional discrimination. On Wednesday, the Korea Baseball Softball Association handed the Baejaego squad a heavy penalty: a six-month ban from national competitions.

On Sunday, the day before the Baejaego baseball players, coaches, parents and school staff — about 80 people in total — were set to visit Gwangju Ilgo to apologize, Lee posted on social media that she had sent a floral wreath bearing the messages "What does Starbucks have to do with May 18?" and "I stand with the Baejaego students."