Faker Becomes First Esports Athlete to Receive South Korea's Highest Sports Honor
- Sagar Mankar
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has awarded the prestigious Cheongnyong Medal to League of Legends legend Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, marking a historic first for the esports industry.
The ceremony took place on January 2, 2026, at the Blue House State Guest House during a New Year's Reception themed "Beyond Recovery, Toward a Great Leap Forward," with First Lady Kim Hye-kyung in attendance alongside the president.
The honor follows Faker’s incredible run with T1, where he helped secure an unprecedented three consecutive World Championship titles from 2023 to 2025 in League of Legends.
The Cheongnyong Medal, which also translates to Blue Dragon Medal, represents the highest honor in South Korea's Order of Sports Merit and has traditionally been reserved for Olympic gold medalists and dominant world champions in traditional sports.
Faker's receipt of this award signals a monumental shift in how esports is perceived on the global stage, placing competitive gaming alongside conventional athletic achievements in terms of national prestige.
The 29-year-old mid-laner has been with T1 since his professional debut in 2013, building a career that many consider untouchable in competitive gaming. According to the official recognition, Faker earned the medal for his "outstanding meritorious services" in elevating South Korea's international sports reputation through esports.
His resume speaks for itself with a staggering six World Championship titles under his belt, achieved in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025, making him the most decorated player in League of Legends World Championship history. On top of that, he has claimed 10 LCK titles and two Mid-Season Invitational victories in 2016 and 2017.
Statistically, his dominance is just as impressive. Faker holds records for most kills, assists, and wins at Worlds, and was the first player ever to reach 100 wins at the tournament. He has also earned two Worlds Finals MVP awards, in 2016 and 2024, and was inducted into the inaugural LoL Esports Hall of Legends in 2024.
Beyond club competition, Faker has represented South Korea on the international stage at the Asian Games, winning silver in 2018 and gold in 2022. That gold medal granted him exemption from mandatory military service. As reported by Forbes Korea, he was also named to the Power Celebrity 40 list in 2025, highlighting his influence well beyond gaming.
Faker now stands among legendary South Korean athletes who've received this honor, including figure skating icon Kim Yuna, archery champions like Kim Woo-jin, and even soccer superstar Son Heung-min who received a special award in 2022. Past recipients have predominantly come from taekwondo, archery, fencing, short track speed skating, and weightlifting, with over 140 individuals honored since the decoration's inception.