'Hold your heads high': Gwangju principal praised for embracing rival school after May 18 slur

"The finest apology you can offer is to meet Gwangju Jeil students again next time and compete with full confidence, giving everything you have. I hope we can draw a clear line between what the students are responsible for and what the adults are responsible for in this incident. Leading children astray is the fault of the adults."

Those words, spoken by Lee Kyu-youn, principal of Gwangju Jeil High School, are drawing widespread praise after the baseball team from Seoul's Baejae High School traveled to Gwangju to bow in apology — having caused an uproar by chanting a slogan mocking the May 18 Democratic Uprising during a high school baseball tournament.

All 36 members of the Baejae High School baseball team, along with parents and faculty — 86 people in total — visited Gwangju Jeil High School at around 3 p.m. Monday to formally apologize to the Gwangju Jeil players and Gwangju citizens for the hurt caused by the inappropriate chant, which referenced a Starbucks advertising slogan. The visit came one week after the incident, which occurred during a game on June 29.

Baejae's team captain read a handwritten letter of apology, saying he "sincerely apologizes to the Gwangju Jeil players, their parents and Gwangju citizens who were deeply wounded by the inappropriate words and actions," and that he had "come to realize how important character and attitude are in life, beyond baseball," vowing to live with constant reflection. The school's coach and faculty also acknowledged the incident as a deplorable failure of historical awareness and pledged to prevent a recurrence and carry out disciplinary proceedings.

The moment that drew the most attention was the welcome Principal Lee extended to the visiting students. Seeing parents enter the hall in tears and students on the verge of crying, he set aside his prepared remarks. "When I saw the mothers weeping as they walked in, and the students looking like they were about to cry, everything I had planned to say just disappeared," he told them. "Baejae students — raise your heads and straighten your shoulders. Your future is not over."

Lee then turned to the question of adult responsibility. "Leading children astray is the fault of the adults, and I too am looking back at myself because of this incident," he said. He also urged both sides to see the episode as an opportunity for growth. "There is a painful process we must endure in order to change," he said. "I hope this becomes a chance to show that the students can grow even stronger, and that the adults fulfill their own responsibilities."

Lee also drew a historical connection between the two schools. "Baejae High School has a statue of President Syngman Rhee, and Gwangju Jeil High School has the Student Independence Movement Monument — and it was President Rhee who personally inscribed the monument's dedication," he said. "Baejae's predecessor school has the proud history of its students joining the 1929 Student Independence Movement as it spread across the country. I hope this becomes an occasion for both schools to work together so that the traditions and history of our predecessors are never negated by a moment's mistake."

"I think there have been enough gestures of reconciliation," Lee said. "I hope today becomes the first step toward forgiveness, reconciliation and a new beginning."

Online communities where Lee's remarks were shared have been flooded with praise. "I truly respect him — he is a real adult," read one comment. "Wrongdoing must be reflected upon, and an apology must be embraced," read another.

After the apology ceremony, both teams paid joint tribute at the Gwangju Student Independence Movement Monument on the Gwangju Jeil campus, then traveled together to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery to pay their respects and reflect on the values of democracy, human rights and peace.

Seoul education superintendent Jeong Geun-sik and South Jeolla Province and Gwangju education superintendent Kim Dae-jung joined the tribute, pledging to support educational recovery. Kim also proposed a goodwill reconciliation game between the two schools to coincide with Gwangju Student Independence Movement Day on Nov. 3, to sustain the spirit of reconciliation.

The incident began June 29, when some Baejae players directed a hate chant at the Gwangju Jeil dugout during the game, citing an advertising slogan that had previously sparked controversy for mocking the May 18 uprising. The school has referred two students involved to its student conduct committee and disciplinary proceedings are underway.