Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (26) is regarded as the best player in the MOBA League of Legends of all time. However, since 2020, criticism against the midlaner has increased. His LoL team T1 and he have received hateful messages. Now they want to put a stop to this and are taking action: They are suing the authors of malicious online comments against a coach, against Faker, and against other members of T1.
Who is Faker and why is he considered the best player?
- Faker was a dominant force in the midlane right from the start of League of Legends. In the midlane, flexible and deadly champions are played in LoL, who can quickly kill opponents with fast skill combinations – Faker has always excelled at this.
- A cult formed around Faker early on: In video clips, one could see how Faker effortlessly emerged victorious from even the most hopeless situations. He barely moved a muscle and remained ice-cold at all times.
- Moreover, Faker had enormous success: He became world champion in 2013, 2015, and 2016 – he won the championship in Korea 10 times: The LCK is regarded as the strongest league in the world. During that time, he earned the nickname “unkillable demon king.”
Faker is considered a kind of “national treasure“ in South Korea, an ambassador and figurehead of the entire country:
This is how Faker is doing today: Since 2017, something has been off. Faker has not been able to win a World Championship anymore, has had to endure some bitter defeats, even missing the World Championship.
Nevertheless, he is still considered an outstanding player today. His team T1 is one of the best teams in the world: Even though Faker is no longer the key player, the focus has now shifted to the 19-year-old Keria.
Coach received death threats when he substituted Faker
What is going on in South Korea now? In recent years, the climate between fans and esports athletes has apparently deteriorated significantly.
Members of the KT Rolster team received images of deadly weapons in a box in their training room, as reported by the magazine Inven.
Faker and his team T1 also received ugly news in 2020: At that time, T1 was going through a crisis and Faker was benched for a few matches and replaced by a young midlaner.
His coach at the time, Kim “Moment” Ji-hwan, received death threats for his decision to substitute Faker.
Much hate against successful LoL players in South Korea
This is the reaction now: On July 19, the T1 legal team, together with Faker, went public and held a press conference in front of the police station in Jongno, which is a district of Seoul.
It is said that Faker has repeatedly urged people to refrain from malicious comments, but more and more such comments have come and they have become increasingly hostile.
Representatives of the APEX LAW LLC firm are now saying:
Players, the families of players, and all those around them continue to suffer on a mental level and we have no choice but to initiate prosecution against those who leave such hateful online comments.
It is said that they will take a rigorous approach and not enter into any deals. In the future, the team will monitor comments and take action against comments directed at T1 and Faker.
Personal attacks are not something one has to accept
In a press release from T1, Faker is quoted as saying:
Faker believes that every professional player has to live with their performance and career being evaluated by fans. But: Unwarranted criticism and personal attacks are not something one has to accept
T1 is determined to protect its members from such attacks. They have previously filed charges against those who verbally attacked their coach “Moment.” Today, they will file additional charges against those who attack Faker.
They also intend to pursue charges against “John Doe,” meaning against unknown persons.
T1 adds: These are not one-time measures, but they will long-term protect the players.
For many first-generation pros, LoL is now over, but Faker is determined to continue playing and defy age:
