Poet Ryu Geun has sparked controversy after defending the Baejae High School baseball team's comments about the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, which has led to accusations of double standards due to his past support for actor Jo Jin-woong.
On July 1, Ryu expressed his views on Facebook regarding the controversy surrounding the baseball team’s remarks related to the 5.18 incident.
He stated, "Some people are saying we should forgive the baseball team. If we are to hold adults responsible for their poor teaching, then let’s punish all adults," adding, "The moral decay of our community, which failed to properly reprimand those who ordered takeout in front of the Sewol ferry hunger strike site, has grown to the point where it mocks the deaths in Gwangju with chants and dances today."
Ryu questioned, "Has forgiving figures like Chun Doo-hwan, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye made our society even a centimeter better?" He expressed his dismay, saying, "It is tragic and bleak. We must be angry and reprimand them like adults," and called for a societal discussion on the juvenile justice system, lamenting, "What kind of world is it where 'Ilbe' antics become a game?"
He also referenced the victims of the 5.18 movement, stating, "Can you believe that people who mock the photo of a mother crying over her son, who was shot dead during the Gwangju uprising, with comments like 'Delivery of fermented skate has arrived' face no consequences?" He added, "Such people are nurturing demons like Yoon Suk-yeol."
However, as Ryu's post gained traction, his previous comments defending Jo Jin-woong during a controversy last year were also revisited.
At that time, Ryu acknowledged Jo's past involvement in a crime as a teenager and his subsequent decision to retire from acting, stating, "I don’t want to get involved, but I’ve heard a lot about actor Jo Jin-woong, and ultimately, I say, 'F*** off.'" He publicly defended Jo, asserting, "Hegel said that people are beings that change and develop," and noted that forgiveness is a teaching of Jesus, while also referencing Sartre's idea that existence precedes essence.
Ryu argued, "What youth hasn’t been near a juvenile detention center? While what he did as a child is important, what matters more is how he lives now." He criticized the community for its ignorance regarding proper evaluation of reflection and practice, expressing regret over Jo's retirement announcement.
As Ryu's past remarks resurfaced, netizens reacted with comments such as, "Those who have been to juvenile detention should be forgiven, but this is typical hypocrisy," and "It’s absurd to make such a big deal out of this when the students have already apologized and the school has announced disciplinary action."
One netizen, identifying as a teenager, pointed out, "The comment about 'Let’s go to Starbucks' directed at Gwangju Ilgo is indeed a controversial and immature remark. However, it’s bizarre that adults want to block the future of high school students and send funeral wreaths over this."
The netizen added, "The students have already apologized, and the school has stated they will take disciplinary action. It’s strange for adults to swoop in as if they’ve found a case to pursue. Seeing the funeral wreath sent to the school made me think it was a prank. Do you really want to act like that towards kids? Please mature up."
Meanwhile, Baejae High School has announced that it will proceed with disciplinary measures against the students involved in the controversy. Ryu's post and the ensuing online debate have sparked discussions on historical awareness, the scope of youth responsibility, and the standards of social forgiveness.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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