During a formal ceremony, Faker received the Blue Dragon Medal, the highest recognition for a South Korean athlete.
President Lee Jae Myung awarded Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok the Blue Dragon Medal, the highest class of the Order of Sports Merit and South Korea’s top honor for athletes. On the second day of 2026, Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the distinction.
What is the Cheongnyong Medal?
The Order of Sports Merit is the highest honor an athlete can receive in South Korea. It is awarded to those whose exceptional contributions have improved public fitness and elevated the country’s status through sports. This is a recognition for those who have distinguished themselves in international competitions such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, and many more.
Within this honor, there are five classes: Girin (Qilin), Baegma (White Horse), Geosang (Giant Elephant), Maengho (Fierce Tiger), and Cheongnyong (Blue Dragon), the highest one. Faker was awarded the first-class medal, as the South Korean media outlets reported.
Faker receives the Cheongnyong Medal
On Jan. 2, Faker received the Blue Dragon Medal from the South Korean government, the highest honor an athlete can achieve in the country. The award recognizes his legendary League of Legends career, which includes six World Championship titles and a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games. Moreover, Faker is the first esports player to ever receive this distinction.
In a video shared by T1 on X, Faker expressed his gratitude and thanked fans for always being supportive. "It's an incredibly meaningful day for me. I believe I'm receiving this honor thanks to my fans and the constant love and support from everyone who cheers for me," the player explained. "I'm deeply grateful for this prestigious recognition from the nation."
The mid laner even assured fans that he will keep doing his best as a professional gamer to meet their expectations. Furthermore, he added, "I want to continue positively inspiring my fans."
What does this recognition mean for esports?
While the award may not seem significant to some, it represents an important step forward for esports. For decades, experts have debated whether esports should be classified as sports at all, leaving the industry in a gray area.
Over the years, many esports titles have shown that the industry can draw millions of viewers. For example, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and VALORANT are some of the most popular titles. This industry also has the potential to boost local economies and tourism. With honors like these, players gain more opportunities to succeed, and the esports scene can attract greater public and private investment.
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