Faker Gets Cheongnyong Medal from Korean President

The debate is officially over. If there were any lingering doubts about whether esports stands on equal footing with traditional sports, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung just silenced them permanently. Earlier today at the Blue House, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was awarded the Cheongnyong Medal (Blue Dragon), the highest honor within the Order of Sport Merit. This isn’t just a win for Faker or T1; it is a monumental ratification of our entire industry.

Faker Gets Cheongnyong Medal: Why This Medal Matters

To understand the gravity of this moment, you have to look at the company Faker now keeps. The Cheongnyong Medal is the 1st Class honor in the Order of Sport Merit, historically reserved for national heroes who have accumulated a staggering 1,500 merit points.

Before today, this list was dominated by Olympic gold medalists, football icon Son Heung-min, and figure skating legend Kim Yuna. Today, a gamer joined their ranks.

Unlike special cultural exceptions, Faker qualified through sheer, undeniable dominance. With T1’s historic “Three-peat” victory at Worlds 2025—securing his 6th World Championship title—Faker statistically smashed the merit point threshold required for the award.

The Ceremony: A New Era for National Representatives

President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks during the New Year’s gathering highlighted a pivotal shift in government policy toward gaming. Handing the medal to the 29-year-old mid-laner, President Lee stated:

“Faker is not just a gaming champion; he is a national representative who has elevated Korea’s stature globally. He has shown that passion and digital mastery are new engines for our nation’s pride.”

This marks a stark contrast to decades past where gaming was often viewed with skepticism by policy-makers. Today, the Blue House effectively declared esports a pillar of South Korean cultural heritage.

Faker’s Reaction: Humble as Ever

True to form, the “Unkillable Demon King” deflected the glory to his teammates. Standing in a suit that looked as natural on him as his T1 uniform, Faker said:

“It is a great honor to receive this medal representing the Republic of Korea. I am here thanks to my teammates who have run this race with me. I hope this award brings a little joy and pride to everyone who loves esports.”

What Faker Gets Cheongnyong Medal Means for the Industry

For us at Adept Marketing and the wider ecosystem, the implications are massive:

Legitimacy: Brands can no longer view esports as a “niche” investment. It is government-sanctioned national merit.
Career Viability: Parents and educators have a concrete example that a career in gaming can lead to the highest levels of national recognition.
Global Precedent: South Korea is the mecca of esports. Where they lead, the world follows. We can expect other nations to begin recognizing their digital athletes with similar state honors.

Faker has spent 13 years building a legacy that seemed impossible to top. Today, he didn’t just win another trophy; he changed how the world sees a keyboard and mouse.

Esports