This marks the fourth rebranding in the organization's history. From 2016 to 2021, the team was known as Afreeca Freecs, then competed as Kwangdong Freecs from 2022 to 2024, and as DN Freecs in the 2025 season. The transition to the DN SOOPers brand reflects the new positioning of the club's key partner.
Along with the name change, the organization has confirmed its roster for the 2026 season. Lee "DuDu" Dong-ju will remain in the top lane, again teaming up with 2022 world champion Hong "Pyosik" Chang-hyeon in the jungle position. The mid lane has been strengthened with the addition of Lee "Clozer" Ju-hyeon, who previously played for OKSavingsBank BRION in the 2025 season.
The most notable changes have occurred in the bot lane. Joining DN SOOPers are the World Championship finalists, ADC Seo "deokdam" Dae-gil and support Jeong "Peter" Yoon-su, who have transferred from KT Rolster .
Team name changes are a common practice in Asian esports. In South Korea and China , teams are often directly linked to their sponsor brands and use their names as part of their corporate identity. This model is typical for organizations like Hanwha Life Esports , T1 , or KT Rolster .
The brand-dependent model has long been established in the LCK and LPL ecosystems, providing teams with stable funding and long-term partner support. The high level of competition and large league audiences make such investments attractive to companies, leading to frequent rebranding.
