Faker is on the same list as BTS and other big names as one of the Most Influential Korean Stars on the annual KOFICE Hallyu survey.
League of Legends esports superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was named in the top five Most Influential Hallyu (Korean Wave) Stars in the World for 2025. The entire list is notable, with groups like BTS and Blackpink present.
Faker in the 2026 Overseas Hallyu Status Survey by KOFICE
The Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, or KOFICE, runs an annual survey for overseas Hallyu fans. By definition, Hallyu refers to the “Korean Wave” – or the spread of South Korean culture, including K-dramas and shows, food, music, and film.
This year, KOFICE reported over 26,000 respondents across 28 countries and regions.
Faker has found himself within the top five of the “Most Influential Hallyu Stars” category, tied with singer and actress Lee “IU” Ji-eun. They both had 1.9% of the votes.
Leading the category was BTS (6.9%), followed by actor Lee Min-ho (4.6%) in second. Third place was shared between Blackpink and BTS member Jung Kook (3.0%), while fourth was taken up by Blackpink’s Lisa (2.1%).
Faker similarly held the fifth spot in the Asia-Pacific region, albeit solo now, when the votes were divided continentally.
Within this global gaming ecosystem, “Faker” is recognized as the “face of esports” beyond any specific country and has established himself as an influential Hallyu figure. As the scope of Hallyu stars expands beyond drama, film, and music to include esports and traditional sports,
it is evident that the influence of Korean culture is not limited to specific industries but is connecting with global fanbases across diverse fields.– KOFICE, 2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey
Earlier this year, Faker was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal by the South Korean president.
Games and esports in the KOFICE 2026 Hallyu survey
The 2025 League of Legends World Championship was cited as a “major annual Hallyu trend,” alongside things like KATSEYE’s Gabriela ranking in the charts and KPop Demon Hunters’ critical acclaim.
Video games in general also had the chance to shine in the survey. One question asked for the respondents’ favorite Korean game, and here are the results.
PUBG: Battlegrounds retains its #1 spot since 2021, followed by Crossfire, Ragnarok, and Black Desert. Finally, this year’s new entry comes at #5: Cookie Run: Kingdom.
KOFICE commended PUBG’s longevity, saying that it is entering a “second golden age.”
This is interpreted as the result of effective strategies to expand user engagement, including continuous content updates, quality improvements, and collaborations with globally renowned streamers. In particular, in Asia, where esports has become part of mainstream culture, the performance of Asian teams and tournament exposureare analyzed to have driven the popularity of PUBG: Battlegrounds.
– KOFICE, on PUBG: Battlegrounds entering its “second golden age.”
Esports remains a massive export for South Korea. For example, the top-tier VCT Pacific is held in South Korea, and T1 remains one of the most popular League of Legends teams worldwide.