League of Legends (LoL) player “Faker” (Lee Sang-hyuk) poses for the “Shhh” ceremony during the media day for the Hall of Legends induction at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Thursday afternoon. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – As he was inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends on June 6, Lee Sang-hyeok, known as “Faker,” the celebrated professional gamer for the T1 team, spoke about the profound impact his career has had on fans worldwide.
“Throughout my professional life, I’ve faced many ups and downs,” said Lee, 27. “But whenever I receive letters from fans saying they overcame adversity by looking up to me, it reminds me that I’ve led a meaningful career.”
Lee, who has earned renown as one of the most accomplished players in League of Legends esports history, reflected on his values during a media event at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul. “Money and fame are temporary,” he said, “and pursuing them leads to an endless chase for more. Instead, I aspire to have a positive influence and put that into practice.”
He added, “I hope my fans can learn from witnessing my growth.”
Since his professional debut in 2013, Lee has spent 11 years as the mid-laner for T1, one of the premier League of Legends teams. In his inaugural year, he won the World Championship, the first of his four titles in the international tournament.
He has also captured 10 domestic league championships, becoming the most decorated player in both global and domestic competitions.
Lee credited Kim Jeong-gyun, known as “kkOma” and now T1′s coach, as his mentor. “He’s been with me since my debut, and his every action has nurtured me into becoming a better player,” Lee said gratefully.
When asked about rivals, Lee said there were too many formidable opponents to name just one, though he mentioned Jung Ji-hoon, known as “Chovy,” the mid-laner for Gen.G, as a recent frequent finals adversary.
Lee cited his current T1 teammates as the most memorable colleagues, saying, “We’ve been together for so long, and I hope we can achieve more this year.”
League of Legends (LoL) player “Faker” (Lee Sang-hyuk) receives a car key and a painting of a Mercedes-AMG SL 63 from Mathias Vaitl, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, during the Hall of Fame induction media day event at the Shilla Hotel guesthouse in Jung-gu, Seoul, Thursday afternoon. (Yonhap)
Beyond his skills, Lee has earned praise for his exemplary conduct and charitable work. He attributed his level-headedness to his personality, saying, “I’ve been cautious since I was young, so being a public figure wasn’t too difficult. It suited me well.”
He added, “With so much provocative media these days, especially influencing young viewers, I try to live a restrained and simple life.”
Unusually for a professional gamer, Lee has never changed teams, remaining with T1 throughout his career. “From the start, I felt T1 was a great organization, and now I feel like I’m part of it, not just a player,” he explained. “Although the esports landscape has changed, prompting me to consider transferring, T1′s values aligned best with mine, and the domestic LCK is the top league globally.”
Regarding South Korea’s prowess in international esports events, Lee said, “It was expected, given our nation’s keen interest in gaming. We have a great pool of talent, and an environment where players can learn from and grow with each other.”
He expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia in July, calling it “a milestone in esports’ growth, and I look forward to participating in this new event.”
The League of Legends Hall of Legends was launched last month by Riot Games — a first for the game’s professional esports scene — naming Lee as its inaugural inductee.
“Faker has been the driving force behind the growth of League of Legends esports,” said Oh Sang-hun, who oversees the Asia-Pacific esports operations at Riot Games, explaining the selection.
“Not only has he achieved unparalleled success as an active player, but the man behind ‘Faker’ — Lee Sang-hyeok himself — has demonstrated admirable character, exerting a positive influence both inside and outside the game.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
