Korean media are discussing a lot about the possibility that League of Legends professional player, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok may be exempt from military service.
Esports becomes medal sports in Asian Games 2022
If Faker and the Korean League of Legends team win a Gold Medal at the 2022 Asian Games, he and his teammates will not have to go to military service for 2 years like any other young Koreans. In Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China confirmed that esports will officially become medal sports, not a performance sport like in the Asian Games 2018 anymore. Although it’s still not officially confirmed, there is a 99% chance that the game will contribute to the sports festival!
Korean Military Service
From the above information, the network community has immediately thought of being considered for military service exemption or reduction for Faker. Under Korean law, Decree Enforcement of Military Service Law, Article 68-11, Paragraph 1, No.5, provides provisions for special military service related to the introduction of membership of sport and art. Identification: “Athletes who win a championship at the Asian Games, through the recommendation of an important figure in art and sport, can become a special subject of the Special Military Service Law.”
This does not mean that Faker or the athletes in the League of Legends team are completely exempt from military service. Instead, he only needed to attend military training for three weeks and had 544 hours of volunteer work in 34 months. Previously, soccer player Son Heung-min and members of The Korean Olympics did this by winning the Gold Medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
This is really good news for Faker fans as well as the Korean League of Legends players because the military service law in this country is very strict and few people have enjoyed a special regime like this before. From now until the Asian Games 2022 is still very far, Faker must maintain good performance to have the opportunity to participate in the Korean League of Legends team to attend the tournament. Besides, the competition for gold is not easy because the Chinese League of Legends team is also very strong and ready to compete with Korea.
