NHRCK Decides Not to Grant Emergency Relief to Paichai High Over 5.18 Mockery Controversy

[Financial News] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has decided not to grant emergency relief for students at Paichai High School, who sparked controversy over mocking the 5.18 pro-democracy movement.
According to the NHRCK on the 24th, it dismissed an emergency relief request filed by former Seoul Metropolitan Council member Lee Jong-bae against the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) the previous day.
Lee had filed the request through e-People on the 5th, asking the NHRCK to overturn KBSA’s decision to suspend Paichai High School from national tournaments for six months. He argued that the students were not given enough opportunity to explain themselves and that even students who did not chant the slogan were barred from competition, causing irreparable harm.
The NHRCK said it reached the decision after considering that, in a rehearing by the Sports Fairness Committee of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) on the 20th, Paichai High School’s suspension was reduced from six months to one month. With the penalty shortened, the school will be able to take part normally in its first game of the Bonghwang Flag National High School Baseball Tournament, which opens at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 11th of next month. The commission also said it took into account that the complaint could meet dismissal requirements because the victim was not specifically identified.
However, separate from the dismissal of the emergency relief request, the NHRCK said it will continue investigating the complaint.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter