Summary:
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok makes history as the first esports athlete to receive South Korea’s prestigious Cheongyeong Medal.
- President Lee Jae-myung personally presented the honor during the Blue House New Year reception on January 2, 2026.
- The award comes after Faker’s sixth League of Legends World Championship victory and his historic milestone of 1,000 international kills.
Six-time League of Legends world champion Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has just made another history. The legendary T1 mid laner has become the first esports athlete ever to receive South Korea’s prestigious Cheongyeong Medal. President Lee Jae-myung personally presented the honor at the Blue House New Year reception on January 2, 2026. This cemented Faker’s legacy not only in the Rift and the industry but also in his country.
What the Medal Represents
Faker got the top award in South Korea’s Order of Sports Merit, called the Cheongyeong Medal. This award system has five levels to honor great achievements around the world. The levels are Cheongyeong, Maengho, Geosang, Baekma, and Girin.
This award is typically reserved only for Olympic gold medalists and world champions who bring exceptional prestige to the nation. So having Faker receive it is a huge deal. The past recipients include football star Son Heung-min, figure skating icon Kim Yuna, golf pioneer Park Se-ri, MLB trailblazer Park Chan-ho, and 2002 World Cup coach Guus Hiddink.
Faker is now officially seen as one of South Korea’s greatest sports stars, showing that esports is now fully accepted as a real sport.
Redefined Competitive Gaming
The medal comes after an amazing 2025 season. Faker won his sixth League of Legends World Championship. He beat KT Rolster in the Grand Final and won three years in a row, something no one has done before. His world titles are from 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025. This record as the most successful League of Legends player.
He also became the first player ever to get 1,000 kills in international tournaments. This shows how long he has played and how steady he has been at the top. Very few athletes in any sport have stayed this good for over ten years, which makes Faker’s career even more impressive.
Recognition Beyond the Rift
Faker kept getting noticed both in South Korea and around the world. In August, he was named Esports PC Player of the Decade at the Esports Decade Awards in Riyadh, showing how much he matters in competitive gaming everywhere.
His influence now goes beyond just playing games. Faker recently met with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to talk about the future of esports in South Korea. This shows that he is a leader and a representative for the esports industry. More and more, his opinions are helping shape important talks about it in the government.
Partnerships With Popular Brands
Faker has also worked with well-known brands and appeared in everyday products. For example, he partnered with League of Legends: Wild Rift to release a special Zed skin. Razer also created a Faker-themed mouse mat based on his “Unkillable Demon King” nickname and his 2024 world title. More recently, he teamed up with McDonald’s for a limited-time menu that helped raise money for charity. All of this shows that Faker is popular not only in esports, but in mainstream culture too.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, Faker getting the Cheongyeong Medal is more than just a personal win. It marks a big moment for esports in South Korea. It shows that competitive gaming is now fully accepted as a real sport. As Faker’s career goes on, his influence is now right up there with the country’s greatest sports heroes.
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