Six-time League of Legends world champion Lee ‘Faker‘ Sang-hyeok has received the Cheongyeong Medal, South Korea’s highest sporting decoration, from the country’s President Lee Jae-myung.
The T1 mid laner is the first esports athlete to receive this accolade, which highlights the achievements of the country’s sporting athletes in international competitions.
Faker formally received the award as part of South Korea’s New Year reception on January 2nd, 2026. The Cheongyeong Medal is South Korea’s highest accolade for sporting achievements, and is awarded to Olympic gold medalists and world champions from traditional sports.
South Korea’s Medal of Sports is split into five classes — Cheongyeong, Maengho, Geosang, Baekma, and Girin. Previous recipients of the Cheongyeong Medal include professional footballer Son Heung-min, baseball player Park Chan-ho, and competition climber Kim Jain.
Receiving the accolade has cemented Faker’s place as one of South Korea’s leading figures in the esports industry. In 2025, he won his sixth League of Legends world title after defeating KT Rolster in the Grand Final. He also became the first player to score 1,000 kills in international tournaments, adding another milestone to his illustrious career.
In addition to receiving the Cheongyeong Medal, Faker has won several awards over the past 12 months. August 2025 saw the T1 mid laner win the Esports PC Player of the Decade accolade at the Esports Decade Awards ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Faker’s Continued Impact
Faker’s success in League of Legends esports has resulted in the player securing collaborations with a variety of international brands. In late 2025, Faker joined forces with McDonald’s to promote a limited-time menu item that donates a portion of sales to charity.
Elsewhere, Razer launched a mouse mat designed in collaboration with Faker. Inspired by the Unkillable Demon King nickname, the white and gold design commemorated the player’s fifth world championship win from 2024.
