Hanwha Life Esports has announced bot-laner Lee ‘Gumayusi‘ Min-hyung to its League of Legends roster for the 2026 LCK season.
The announcement follows the players’ departure from League of Legends World Champion T1 earlier this month.
Hanwha Life Esports wrote: “With his exceptional performance and extensive experience, Gumayusi will help lead Hanwha Life Esports toward even greater heights. We kindly ask for your continued support as we begin our journey with Gumayusi in the 2026 season.”
It marks the end of Gumayusi’s run with T1 after a year of uncertainty regarding his future with the organisation. From T1’s CEO intervening to reinstate the player at the beginning of the 2025 LCK season after being benched by academy player Sin ‘Smash‘ Geum-jae to winning Worlds 2025.
Gumayusi was named the MVP during the Grand Finals match against KT Rolster. Following the tournament, T1 would announce the 23-year-old’s departure from the team on November 17th with a post and farewell video after representing the organisation for seven years.
As Gumayusi begins his next chapter with Hanwha Life Esports, his bot-laner spot on T1 has been taken by Kim ‘Peyz‘ Su-hwan, who formerly played for Gen.G Esports in the 2024 season.
Smash Also Leaves T1
T1’s promising academy player, Smash, has also ended his tenure with the organisation to join Dplus Kia as its newest bot-laner.
Dplus Kia wrote: “With his steadily built skills and rapid growth, he is ready to unleash his full potential. We ask for your anticipation and support. Please give a big round of applause to welcome Smash so that his journey of racing forward with Dplus KIA can shine even brighter.”
T1 faces a significant shift as both Gumayusi and Smash depart, bringing a turbulent chapter to a close. Once locked in a fierce battle for a place on T1’s main roster, the two players will enter the upcoming season under new organisations.
