South Korea's national esports team will compete for medals in all nine events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, setting a target of nine medals including five golds as it seeks to showcase the country's strength in esports.
The Korea e-Sports Association said it held a send-off ceremony for the national esports team on the 25th at the Sangam Cube Convention Center in Seoul's Mapo District.
In its pre-departure report, the association set a goal of medals in all nine events: five golds in League of Legends, fighting games, PUBG Mobile, Gran Turismo 7 and Puyo Puyo Champions; two silvers in eFootball and Pokemon Unite; and two bronzes in Honor of Kings and Identity V.
The team's official slogan, unveiled the same day, is "SEE the UNSEEN: National Representatives for All of Us." The slogan reflects the idea that players who have proven their skills out of public view will now stand on the Asian stage wearing the national emblem. Lee Seung-yeon, head of the association's strategic business division, said, "We hope people will look not only at the results of the matches but also at the time and process the players have built up to reach those results."
Lee Sang-hyeok, known as "Faker," who is competing at his third consecutive Asian Games in League of Legends, stressed his sense of responsibility as a national team member. "Because the Asian Games draw deep interest even from the general public, I feel great pride and weight," he said. "I will prepare as best I can so that I can deliver a strong performance and good results for many people."
League of Legends head coach Kang Dong-hoon also expressed a strong determination to win gold. With the strength of rival nations seen as a variable — including the possibility that China will not take part and the makeup of Taiwan's roster — Kang said, "Whoever the opponent is, our only goal is the gold medal." He added, "We will analyze our opponents thoroughly without letting our guard down and deliver good results."
Bae Jae-min, who is over 40 and will compete in the fighting game category with Tekken 8, addressed concerns about a so-called aging curve. "In fighting games, mental play and accumulated experience matter as much as physical ability," he said. "Through a month of joint training, I will minimize inconsistency and stand on the Nagoya stage in the best condition." Park So-yeon, listed as the first female player on the national team, competing in Identity V, said, "I will display my skills as I have prepared, without regret, and produce a valuable result."
The team will gather at the Busan Esports Arena, known as Brena, from the 26th to begin full-scale training. The squad will then take on an 11-day run at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, starting with eFootball on September 22 and running through October 2.
