South Korea's Triumph at Asian Games 2023 Grants Esports Players Military Service Exemption
South Korea's League of Legends team has emerged victorious at the Asian Games 2023 Grand Finals, defeating Chinese Taipei and securing a military service exemption for all its players. In a country where military service is mandatory for males aged 18 to 35, this victory ensures that the esports careers of these players can continue uninterrupted.
The South Korean roster featured:
- Choi “Zeus” Woo-je
- Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
- Ryu “Keria” Min-seo
All six players will now receive exemptions from military service, a reward for their participation and triumph at the Asian Games 2023.
A Resounding Victory
Following their win against China the day before, their path to the ultimate victory seemed inevitable as they faced a considerably less experienced Chinese Taipei team. Despite the presence of notable players like Hung “Karsa” Hao-Hsuan and Hu “SwordArt” Shuo-Chieh on the Taipei roster, they proved no match for the star-studded South Korean lineup, which dominated the game from start to finish. The ADC powerhouse, "Ruler", continued his reign of dominance with a 14/4/9 performance against Taipei.
Remarkably, this victory marks another flawless run for the South Korean roster, remaining undefeated (with 2-0 series victories) throughout the competition. Notably, even the legendary "Faker" did not need to make an appearance, as the team convincingly outperformed all their Asian opponents.
Uninterrupted Careers
For most South Korean esports players, mandatory military service poses a time constraint on their careers. Many esports players begin their careers before they are eligible for service (under 18 years old), leading to the question of how long they can compete before military obligations. Some opt to play out their careers before enlisting, expecting a shorter-lived career. Others plan to take a break in the middle of their careers to fulfill their military service, with hopes of returning afterward, albeit at the risk of a potential career downturn.
However, for players like "Faker", who is now 27 years old with a decade-long career, including three Worlds titles and numerous domestic accolades, retirement looms on the horizon. This is not the case for his younger teammates like "Keria" and "Zeus", aged 20 and 19, respectively, currently in their prime years as esports athletes and considered among the best in their field. Interrupting their careers, in an industry where careers can be short-lived, could spell the end of their journey. Esports form is also notoriously fleeting, with players rarely maintaining top status for more than a few years.
In Conclusion
With the conclusion of the Asian Games 2023 League of Legends tournament, South Korea has once again demonstrated its dominance in terms of regional talent depth. Fielding a team where their most decorated player can sit out and still secure a flawless victory sends a strong message to the esports world: South Korea is a region that demands ongoing respect.
Bogdan Lashchenko - EgamersWorldin sisältöpäällikkö.Bogdan on työskennellyt EGamersWorldissa vuodesta 2023. Liittyessään yritykseen hän alkoi täyttää sivustoa tiedoilla, uutisilla ja tapahtumilla.
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