Presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who imitated Faker’s signature “shush” pose, stated that he would work to delete the image after controversy arose, clarifying that it has no connection to the T1 player. (Image sources: Kim Moon-soo’s Facebook capture / Provided by T1)
SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean esports powerhouse T1 has issued a strong statement distancing its star player, Lee Sang-hyeok—better known as Faker—from political endorsements after a presidential candidate used a pose associated with the gamer in official campaign materials.
The controversy erupted after Kim Moon-soo, a presidential contender from the ruling People Power Party, released a profile photo earlier this week mimicking Faker’s iconic “shush” pose. The photo, which Kim’s campaign said was taken in the same studio used by the esports legend, was intended to channel the global appeal of League of Legends and its most revered figure.
T1 responded firmly on social media late Tuesday, stating, “Faker is not affiliated with any political stance, party, or campaign,” and urged the public not to interpret the use of his image as a political statement. “We hope that Faker’s likeness or related expressions will not be misconstrued or cause misunderstanding,” the team added.
Kim’s team had also briefly included the hashtag #Faker in a Facebook post promoting the image before removing it amid mounting criticism.
T1 confirmed that it is working to have the unauthorized post removed and vowed to ensure no harm comes to the player.
Faker, who led T1 to a record-breaking fifth League of Legends World Championship title in 2024, was also inducted last year as the inaugural member of Riot Games’ “Hall of Legends,” cementing his status as the greatest esports player of all time.
The incident has reignited debate over the politicization of celebrity and cultural icons in South Korea’s election season.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
