On the afternoon of January 2, Faker was personally awarded the Cheongnyong Medal of the Order of Sports Merit by the President of South Korea. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to promoting Korean eSports on the global stage. The Cheongnyong class is the highest level of this decoration, and Faker became the first eSports player in Korean history to receive it.
With this award, Faker now truly stands shoulder to shoulder with two legendary Korean athletes who are widely considered national icons: figure skating queen Kim Yuna and soccer superstar Son Heung-min. While Faker had long been cited among the symbols of Korea “national treasures”, the receipt of this official state honor effectively ends any debate about its status.
The significance of this recognition goes beyond Faker himself. His award marks a major step forward for eSports in South Korea, elevating both the industry as a whole and League of Legends particularly at an unprecedented level of social and cultural recognition. The Order of Sports Merit is rarely awarded, and the number of athletes who have received it at the Cheongnyong level is extremely limited. Besides Faker, Kim Yuna and Son Heung-min, only two other athletes, baseball legend Park Chan-ho and golf icon Park Seri, have ever received this high-class honor.
This achievement also redefines Faker’s influence and legacy. Already considered unrivaled internally League of Legendsboth in the LCK and around the world, his state recognition puts him in an entirely different category, extending his impact far beyond eSports.
Looking ahead, Faker’s influence may continue to grow further. He has renewed his contract with T1 until 2029, meaning he still has several competitive years ahead of him. With time, results and exposure still on his side, Faker has every opportunity to further elevate his status not only within eSports, but as one of South Korea’s most influential sports figures of all time.
Sources: GameK
