Writers: Devanshi Ghanshala and Prachi Vaid (Delhi, India)
Editor: Prachi Vaid (Delhi, India)
ESPORTS IN SOUTH KOREA
From PC Bangs to World Championships, South Korea holds a prominent and pioneering position in the world of esports. In 2000, South Korea established the Korean eSports Association (KeSPA), becoming one of the first countries ever to recognize esports players as athletes. This acknowledgment and status encouraged many teenagers to come forward and dream of becoming a “pro esports athlete”.
In the present day, the esports scenario is as massive and extensive as K-pop. With major corporate sponsors and investors supporting the teams, and media production houses broadcasting the matches on national television, the esports realm is spreading across the country and reaching a wide audience beyond its borders.
THE MAKING OF A NEW AGE SPORT
South Korea has a rigorous training program for aspiring esports professionals, just like the idol industry. The young adults are trained by professional coaches throughout the day and night, according to fixed schedules that also include their meals and exercise. During their lives as professional gamers, the players are not just mere competitors; they’re seen as celebrities and are celebrated globally. This rise to stardom is similar to the adulation bestowed upon mainstream sports athletes.
INSIDE THE WORLD OF LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
League of Legends (or LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game, developed and published by Riot Games in 2009. In the game, there are mainly 3 to 5 rounds, with each match lasting for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Each team includes 5 players who have different roles: Top Lane, Jungle, Mid Lane, Bot Lane, and Support. Two teams compete with each other in a “player-versus-player” action to occupy and guard their side (either Blue or Red) of the map. The team which pushes through the enemy’s base and destroys their “nexus”, guarded by two turrets, becomes the ultimate winner.
Each player has the liberty to choose and control a character, known as a “champion”, according to their preference, skills, and strategy. These champions gain power by collecting experience points to level up and earn gold to buy more equipment to defeat the enemy. Among the paragons of the Virtual battlefield, Champions such as the mysterious fox-spirit Ahri, the wind-soaring swordsman Yasuo, the martial arts master Lee Sin and the seductive assassin Kai’sa are some of the most popular champions.
SOUTH KOREA’S REIGN ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
League of Legends is the world’s largest esports and contributes to South Korea’s global reputation as the powerhouse of esports. KeSPA organizes numerous domestic League of Legends tournaments, like League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), in cooperation with Riot Games. 10 South Korean LoL esports teams participate, and the top teams qualify for the World Championship and MSI (Mid-Season Invitational), which is conducted between the LCK Spring and Summer split. The League of Legends World Championship (or Worlds) is hosted by Riot Games.
The tournament takes place annually, bringing together the top teams around the globe to compete for the title of world champions. Only the best-performing teams of the regional leagues like LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, etc, qualify for the Worlds. In the South Korean esports’ realm, T1 emerges as a transcendent force, captivating the hearts of esports fans around the globe with their gaming expertise. T1 holds the records for the team with the most LCK titles (10), most World Championship titles (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2023) and two MSI titles (2016 and 2017).
T1’s growing global fame has also attracted significant brand collaborations. In 2025, Samsung partnered with Faker and T1 to promote its expensive Odyssey gaming monitors in China. This collaboration not only highlights the commercial power of South Korean esports but also establishes Faker as more than a player; he’s become a global ambassador for gaming technology and innovation. The partnership reflects how esports in South Korea continues to bridge entertainment, technology, and business on an international scale.
In 2025, South Korea also hosted the First Stand Tournament at Seoul’s iconic LoL Park, marking another milestone for the country’s developing esports community. The event brought together top regional teams and served as a celebratory showcase of talent, innovation, and fan culture. For South Korean fans, it wasn’t just about competition; it was a reminder of how far esports had come since the early PC Bang era. The environment demonstrated South Korea’s continued commitment to supporting esports as a sport and a source of pride for the country.
FAKER: THE UNKILLABLE DEMON KING
One name resonates more than any team and player in the esports scenario; you can’t talk about League of Legends without mentioning Faker. Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-Hyeok debuted in 2013 with T1 just after getting out of high school. He won his first world championship in his debut year, and ever since then, he’s been undefeatable.
He’s called the “Michael Jordan or Messi of esports” and “Unkillable Demon King”. Whatever T1 has won so far, ever since the team was established, Faker has been a part of it. He played a significant role being the captain and led his team to victory. He’s the youngest and the oldest LoL player to win Worlds, with his first being in 2013, in his debut year and his latest in 2023, ten years after his debut. He, along with the South Korea National esports team, won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games and this national prestige earned the team an exemption from the mandatory military service.
In mid-2025, Faker renewed his contract with T1 for another four years, ensuring his stay with the team until 2029. His reputation as the leader of T1 and the face of international esports was strengthened by this major expansion. Around the same time, he became the first player in LCK history to reach 3,500 kills, a record that reflects his consistency and mastery even after more than a decade of competition. His enduring career continues to inspire not only aspiring players in South Korea but millions of fans worldwide who see him as the embodiment of dedication and passion.
DEFT: THE GOD WHO DEFEATED THE GOAT
There’s another player with this much impact and relevance in South Korean esports history, Kim ‘Deft’ Hyuk-kyu. Deft is the ‘God’ who defeated the ‘Goat’, Deft defeated Faker and T1 at Worlds 2022 and won his first-ever World Championship. He has many LCK, LPL and MSI titles under his name and finally added the “World Champion” title to that list. He had the most underrated yet most spectacular World Cup run with DRX at Worlds 2022, where he showed no mercy and defeated some of his former teammates to climb the ladder and win it all.
THE LEGACY OF SOUTH KOREAN ESPORTS
Pro-players like Faker and Deft inspire the youth of South Korea and LoL lovers to embark on this thrilling and back-breaking journey of professional esports. Playing games is fun until it becomes a responsibility and a way of life, but these players always enjoy every game because they love the sport and put in every effort to make it worthwhile for themselves as well as for the fans rooting for them.
South Korea’s esports journey is still unfolding. Tell us in the comments which of their team or players inspires you the most?
I love the fake, he’s just different 💓
This article explains South Korea’s esports dominance really well, especially how League of Legends evolved from PC Bang culture to a global phenomenon. The sections on T1, Faker, and Deft highlight why Korean esports continues to set the standard worldwide. Informative, engaging, and easy to understand even for new readers. A great read.
The way you explain the every single detail related to south Korea’s eSports journey is so good starting from the popular eSports in south korea then explains the game how to play and how players earn points and go on next level to the end of popular players who win the world championships for South korea. Article is so well written not missing a even smallest mistake .
I really love the vibe of e sports since the time I have seen it in dramas. The vibe,energy and chaoticness is so amazing. The next level they can perform to win their teams.
This article beautifully captures how esports in South Korea is more than just gaming—it’s a culture, a career, and a national pride. From the early PC Bang days to global icons like Faker and Deft, the journey feels both inspiring and intense.
I didn’t realize just how big LoL esports is in Korea — it’s crazy how players are treated like celebrities and even train almost like pro athletes 🇰🇷🎮. Seeing names like Faker and teams like T1 become global icons makes me want to watch more matches with friends. Makes me wonder if someday we’ll have bigger LoL events here in India too!
This article offers a fantastic look into how South Korea has become a global powerhouse in League of Legends esports — from PC Bang culture to legendary teams like T1 and iconic players like Faker and Deft. It’s fascinating to see how esports in Korea blends competitive spirit, celebrity status for players, and national pride. For both gamers and casual readers, this piece makes the rise of esports feel inspiring and deeply rooted in Korean culture
I don’t know much about eSports, but I do know Faker and reading about, it made me realize how huge eSports has become especially in Korea. It’s amazing how seriously it’s treated there, almost like a national sport, with massive fan support and global influence…it’s clear that Korea has played a big role in shaping eSports into what it is today.
Wow, South Korea’s esports scene is truly next-level! 🎮 From PC Bangs to global championships, it’s amazing how esports athletes like Faker and Deft have become national icons, just like traditional sports stars. Faker’s legacy as the “Unkillable Demon King” is so inspiring—winning Worlds in both his debut year and a decade later is legendary! And Deft defeating the “Goat” at Worlds 2022… absolute GOAT moment. 💥
A clear and engaging overview of how South Korea’s PC Bang culture and legends like Faker, T1, and Deft shaped global esports dominance.
Faker renewing with T1 until 2029 is the best news ever! 🐐 It’s honestly crazy to think he’s been at the top since 2013—literally the ‘Unkillable Demon King’ for a reason.
Also, I love that the article gave props to Deft’s 2022 run; that underdog story was legendary. The fact that PC Bangs basically serve as training grounds for these gods just shows how deep the culture goes in Korea.
Korea turned gaming into competition, fandom, and pure adrenaline.
Faker is still the GOAT, Deft proved miracles happen, and T1 keeps rewriting history.
What a time to be an esports fan.
This is such a comprehensive and thrilling deep dive into why South Korea is the undisputed capital of the esports world! It’s fascinating to see the parallel drawn between the esports training programs and the K-pop idol industry; it really explains why Korean teams like T1 possess such unmatched discipline and mechanical precision on the global stage.
The breakdown of the ‘League of Legends’ roles was super helpful for those who might be new to the MOBA genre, and I loved the mention of iconic champions like Ahri and Yasuo. But of course, the heart of the article lies in the legends—Faker and Deft. It’s truly legendary that Faker has managed to stay at the peak of his game from 2013 all the way through his contract renewal in 2025. He truly is the ‘Michael Jordan of esports.’ At the same time, seeing Deft get the recognition he deserves for that ‘miracle run’ in 2022 is so heartwarming; it’s one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history, period.
It’s also incredible to see how the government and KeSPA have integrated esports into the national identity, even providing military exemptions for gold medalists. It shows a level of respect for digital athletes that the rest of the world is still catching up to. Thank you, Devanshi and Prachi, for this brilliant write-up! For me, Faker will always be the ultimate inspiration because of his humility and longevity, but T1 as a whole just feels like the ‘Avengers’ of gaming. Can’t wait to see what the ‘First Stand’ tournament in Seoul brings next!”