Paichai High School's 'You should go to Starbucks' taunt sparks controversy; Tae-Sung Choi says, "Where is Korean education headed?"

[Financial News] As Paichai High School's baseball team came under fire for mocking Gwangju Jeil High School players with a "You should go to Starbucks" chant during the 81st Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship, Korean history instructor Tae-Sung Choi raised a broader question, saying, "Those of us in the older generation, myself included, need to seriously think about where education in the Republic of Korea is headed."
On the 1st, Choi posted photos of the Paichai Hakdang campus on his social media and wrote, "Paichai Hakdang, founded by Appenzeller, marked the beginning of modern scholarship in our country. What this school stood for was service," adding that it was "a school that began with respect and love, not mockery and hatred."
He then shared the Paichai Hakdang motto, "If you want to grow great, serve others," along with a photo of Henry Gerhard Appenzeller, the American missionary who founded the school, and added, "I think Teacher Appenzeller would be very saddened."
Choi said the older generation needs to reflect on the direction of Korean education, adding, "I feel deeply ashamed of myself."
The controversy began on the 29th of last month at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul during the Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championship. That day, Paichai High School drew criticism after chanting a taunt aimed at Gwangju Jeil High School: "You should go to Starbucks."
When Paichai High School was leading 6-2 in the top of the seventh inning, some players in the dugout chanted, "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks." One player also shouted "Tank Day" loudly during the incident.
On May 18, Starbucks Korea faced criticism for allegedly disparaging the 5·18 Democratization Movement by using promotional phrases such as "Tank Day" and "Bang on the desk!" while selling its "miniature tank tumbler."
According to the school's own investigation, the student athletes claimed that one team member inserted "Starbucks" into an existing cheer, and the others then joined in spontaneously.
As criticism spread, Paichai High School apologized on social media, and SMOE launched an investigation. The KBSA also convened an emergency sports fairness committee to review the case and imposed a six-month suspension from competition on Paichai High School's baseball team.
gaa1003@fnnews.com Angaeul Reporter