T1 legend Faker was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal, South Korea's highest sports honor.

Lee Sang-hyeok, the legendary South Korean esports player and leader of the T1 team, was recently awarded the Cheonggryong Medal, the highest honor in South Korean sports, at the Blue House State Guest House.

The Blue Dragon Medal is the highest level of sports medals in South Korea, designed to recognize outstanding individuals who have brought glory to the nation and made exceptional contributions on the international stage. This award, presented personally by the President of South Korea, places Faker in the prestigious hall of honor previously held by football superstar Son Heung-min and figure skating queen Kim Yuna.

This move is seen as a significant milestone in the esports industry gaining formal recognition from mainstream society and the national system. Since his debut in 2013, Faker has consistently maintained peak performance.

During his 12-year professional career, he achieved the following remarkable accomplishments:

• Grand Slam Honors: 10 Korean domestic league championships.

• The six-time world champion: He won the League of Legends World Championship six times, and in 2025 he achieved an unprecedented "three-peat".

• Bringing glory to the country: As a core member of the national team, he won the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and was granted a military service exemption in accordance with the law.

At the awards ceremony, Faker humbly stated, "It is a great personal honor to receive this honor on behalf of the Republic of Korea. This achievement belongs to my teammates who have fought alongside me and to my fans who have always supported me. I hope this medal will make everyone who loves esports proud."

Beyond his dominance on the esports stage, Faker's social influence continues to expand. Recently, he not only became a global ambassador for multinational brands such as McDonald's, but was also invited to meet with the Prime Minister of South Korea to discuss the future development trends of the esports industry.