Witnessing the Paichai High School incident, I couldn't help but offer a bitter smile at South Korea’s rotting left-wing politicians and the zealots of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

The cheer shouted by some Paichai High School players during a baseball game—"Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go to Starbucks"—is not merely a chant by students; it is a scathing satire and rebuke directed by the youth of South Korea at this society and the left-wing political figure Lee Jae-myung.

The root cause of this chant can be traced back through several stages. First, there is the May 18 movement. Today, May 18 is evolving from an object of commemoration into an object of mockery. Seeing "fake merit" figures like Choo Mi-ae and Lee Seok-ki has stripped away the veneer of the May 18 movement's hypocrisy, leaving the public outraged.

In response, May 18 advocacy groups and the Gwangju Metropolitan Government have brandished the May 18 Special Act to launch countless lawsuits and accusations. Now, May 18 is moving beyond being a target of mockery and is on the verge of becoming an enemy of the people.

If the May 18 movement is a legitimate part of South Korea's democratic history, Gwangju should be more confident than it is now. Instead, May 18 currently presents a dismal face with its heavy makeup wiped away. Even the irony of labeling a "Starbucks Tank Day" as mockery belongs to the realm of self-deprecation, not pride or dignity.

The "Starbucks Tank Day" has become a scapegoat in this social atmosphere. As Starbucks stated, they had no intention of denigrating the May 18 movement; it was simply a marketing advertisement. May 18 and a tank have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Therefore, the boycott of Starbucks should be seen as an overreaction driven by an extreme victim mentality. Even the phrase "thump on the desk!" has no reason to be linked to Park Jong-chul.

Adding fuel to this fire is Lee Jae-myung's comments on Starbucks, where he referred to it as "low-class, unscrupulous business behavior." Furthermore, Lee emphasized that acts insulting or mocking May 18 victims, such as claims of North Korean involvement, must be punished.

The theory that North Korea was involved in the inception and process of the May 18 movement cannot be an affront to the Korean people. There have been few major incidents in our country where North Korea was not involved. Even though this is a fact acknowledged by many, the push to punish those who mention it only serves to fuel suspicions that the intent is to protect thousands of "fake merit" recipients. Recently, I received reports that even Paik Nak-chung has been registered as a person of national merit.

Why are all those known as "fake merit" recipients affiliated with the Democratic Party? It is a widely circulating rumor that May 18 is being used as a nest for the "leftists" to spawn and multiply.

This criticism and mockery are of the Democratic Party's, the May 18 groups', and Lee Jae-myung's own making. Why can't they confidently step into the public square and share the truth? By resorting to the pathetic violence of mobilizing the judiciary whenever the theory of North Korean involvement is raised, the May 18 movement only brings more shame upon itself.

The Paichai High School incident began when Yoon Suk-yeol’s alma mater, Choong-am High School, was labeled as an "insurrection school." Choong-am High is a renowned school known as a cradle for South Korea’s Go players. Is there no fault for the person who called such a school an "insurrection school"?

Paichai Hakdang, located in Jeong-dong, Seoul, is the first modern school in our country, established in 1885 during the reign of King Gojong. It is recognized as a crucible of Korean education, built during the same period as Ewha Hakdang. Who is the politician casting such venomous words at Paichai High School?

Where is the accountability for a high-ranking political figure who incited a boycott, telling people not to go to Starbucks? Isn't criticism and mockery of such low-level behavior perfectly justified?

Is the chant from the Paichai students, "Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go to Starbucks," merely a mockery directed at the Gwangju Jeil High School baseball players, or is it a biting satire directed at Lee Jae-myung and this society?

Due to the issue of election fraud, not only the students of Paichai High School but youths across the country are realizing the reality of election fraud. If one cannot feel the spirit of resistance against the Lee Jae-myung regime embedded in the Paichai cheer, then impeachment is the only answer for Lee Jae-myung.

Politicians like Lee Gae-ho are demanding the punishment of Paichai High School. There are parts of this society's satire, shouted by high school students, that adults must take responsibility for. Moreover, punishment is not something adults should stoop to. It is truly shameful and embarrassing for adults to intervene in the actions of young high school students.

The public is incensed by the six-month suspension from competitions and the forfeiture of games. If such punishments hinder the college admissions of these Paichai High School baseball players, do you think the May 18 movement will remain unscathed?

You fools, the lesson of liberal democracy is that hitting someone hurts your own hand even more. This lesson will surely not echo only within the baseball stadium. Just wait and see whose hand hurts more!

◆ Poet Jung Jae-hak

Poet, Person of National Merit, Columnist, Promotional Committee Member for President Park Chung-hee, 36-year teaching career in Jeolla-do