LCK fan behavior leads to legal threats

A series of incidents revolving around inappropriate fan behavior has led to a rift between some teams in South Korea’s League of Legends Champions Korea and the nation’s passionate fanbase.

From dangerous packages to online harassment, the past few days have cast one of the biggest League of Legends fandoms in a negative light. This behavior has now resulted in legal action being pursued by some parties.

KT Rolster receive weapons

The latest debate about fan behavior in the LCK arguably began on July 18, when LCK organization KT Rolster condemned a “minority of fans” for a “violation of rights” after a weapon was sent to the team’s practice facility. Additionally, a statement from the organization stated that players, managers, and staff at the practice facility had also received anonymous messages showing pictures of various weapons.

These actions have reportedly caused “pain and anxiety” amongst the players and staff, with KT Rolster going on to say they have not ruled out taking “active measures” against individuals if the behavior continues.

KT Rolster currently hold the final playoff position in the LCK after a 5-5 start to the Summer split. The team has also since made their official Twitter account private.

Faker files a lawsuit

The incident with KT Rolster was followed on July 19 with Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, arguably the most recognizable League of Legends player in the world, filing a lawsuit against a number of individuals who have been consistently harassing him and his family online.

The exact messages and comments were not revealed but Faker’s legal team alluded to slander against Faker’s mother, which was allegedly accompanied by crude drawings. Faker’s legal team also stated that the harassment worsened after T1 failed to win the Mid-Season Invitational in Busan.

South Korea and harassment law

South Korea has someone of the most stringent and punitive harassment laws in the world. Article 311 of the South Korean Criminal Act is specifically about “insults”.

“A person who publicly insults another shall be punished by imprisonment or imprisoment without prison labor for no more than 1 year or by a fine of no more than 2 million won”

This stringentness has sometimes proven controversial. For example, the tangentially related crime of defamation, which refers to statements or comments that cause harm or damage to one’s reputation, is one that an individual can be found guilty of even if the defaming comments are true. This differs from many countries, especially Western countries, where defamation is typically prosecuted on fictitious or false statements.

However, the root of the issue is that harassment of the kind currently being experienced by those in the LCK is taken very seriously by South Korean officials. While harassment cases typically lead to a fine of around 2,000,000 won (~$1500), Faker’s legal team has stated they will be pushing for a harsher sentence if the alleged perpetrators are found guilty.

This is a developing story and for the moment, all we can do is wait to see how it plays out.

Header: Brit in Seoul, LCK