South Korea Completes Flawless Run to give Faker, Zeus, and Keria their Second Asian Games Gold
South Korea’s national esports roster delivered a perfect performance at the 2026 Asian Games, winning the League of Legends tournament without dropping a single match. The victory proved particularly significant for several players, as winning at the Asian Games grants exemption from South Korea’s mandatory two-year military service.
The triumph was especially meaningful for T1’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, who earned their second Asian Games gold medals. Their former teammate Choi “Zeus” Woo-je of HLE also secured his second gold. Three other Korean players—Gen.G’s Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu and HLE’s Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung—earned their first gold medals at the competition.
In South Korea, Asian Games victories carry immense cultural and legal significance beyond sport. The military service exemption represents one of the highest honors an athlete can achieve, allowing esports professionals to continue their careers without interruption during their peak competitive years. This recognition underscores esports’ increasingly prominent status within South Korean society and validates the competitive gaming scene as a legitimate athletic pursuit worthy of national representation.