"This is a competition the general public watches together, so I see it as a chance to give the nation a sense of pride. I feel a much greater sense of responsibility and pressure than before."
The legendary Lee Sang-hyeok, better known to fans as Faker, is gearing up for his third appearance at the Asian Games. He’ll be leading South Korea’s biggest esports squad yet to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games, where the team is aiming for a massive sweep of medals across all nine events, including five golds.
The Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) kicked things off with a send-off ceremony on August 25 in Sangam, Seoul. With 41 athletes and coaches heading to Japan, this year’s roster is more than double the size of the team sent to Hangzhou in 2023.
Faker has been a staple for the national team since esports debuted as a demonstration event back in 2018. After helping South Korea secure League of Legends gold in Hangzhou, he’s back to help the country defend its title and aim for a second straight win.
"Doing my best at every international competition is a given, but this event carries the weight of representing the country, so I will deliver strong results with a heavy sense of responsibility," he said.
South Korea's path to gold looks even clearer now that China has withdrawn from the competition. Still, head coach Kang Dong-hoon made it clear that their mindset hasn't shifted one bit.
"Regardless of whether China takes part, our only goal from the start has been the title," he said. "We will take the gold with dominant play."
South Korea Targets Five Esports Golds
The team is eyeing gold in everything from League of Legends to fighting game favorites like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, plus PUBG Mobile and Gran Turismo 7. They’re also looking to land silver in eFootball and Pokemon Unite, and are aiming for bronze in Honor of Kings and Identity V.
Another icon on the team, Bae Jae-min (aka Knee), will be competing in Tekken 8 in his 40s. While he admits he might not be as fast as the younger players, he believes his years of experience and sharp instincts give him a different kind of edge.
"My physical reaction speed may have slowed compared with when I was younger, but my experience, including mind games, has improved enough to make up for it," he said.
Training has been in full swing since May, with several athletes already hunkered down at the Jincheon National Training Center. Official group sessions run until late September, followed by a final stretch of training camps in Japan to get fully dialed in.
The action starts on September 22 with Gran Turismo 7 and eFootball. The much-anticipated League of Legends tournament will wrap things up, running from September 29 through October 2.
With 11 golds up for grabs at Aichi-Nagoya, South Korea is leaning on Faker’s leadership and its massive new roster to top their previous medal count and prove once again why they're at the top of the esports world.
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