faker at the Center of a Political Scandal in South Korea

The legendary mid laner Lee " faker " Sang-hyeok found himself caught up in a political conflict due to a publication with which he had no involvement.

Kim Moon Soo, a presidential candidate in South Korea from the conservative People Power Party (PPP), posted a photo on his official X page that recreated faker 's famous pose. The gesture was easily recognizable and immediately sparked a strong reaction within the Korean LoL community. However, the main issue was that neither the player nor his club was aware of it.

The very next day, the T1 organization released an official statement:

We want to draw attention to the recent unauthorized use of faker 's image and signature pose in a political context. faker is not affiliated with any political position, party, or campaign. We ask not to interpret his image as an endorsement of any political views. We are working to have the post removed to protect our player.

Even before T1 's response, the post had already sparked a wave of criticism: fans and regular users demanded the post be removed and that faker not be used for political purposes. However, such incidents are not new in Korean politics. In March 2024, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol mentioned faker during a discussion on youth policy alongside BTS, BLACKPINK, and other cultural and sports icons.

Over the past few years, faker has become an important part of South Korea 's soft power—a symbol of national image on the international stage. But, as this incident shows, even legends need protection from unsolicited political exploitation.