Bdd’s military exemption is about to spark an LCK signing frenzy.
South Korean superstar Gawk "Bdd" Bo-seong has just become one of the biggest possible signings of the impending League of Legends postseason in Korea and abroad, with the LCK mid laner earning an exemption from his expected military service after not being summoned for three years.
Bdd has found himself spared from the usual Korean citizen requirement thanks to several underlying rules in the system. In this case, if a Korean citizen born before 2004 did not finish high school they are placed in a "community service tier" instead of bootcamps, according to LCK-focused fan @LoLContextChan on X (formerly Twitter), and then may simply not be called.
This is exactly what's happened to Bdd, who was preparing for his military service in 2025; he's free to play, he confirmed while streaming. "Long wait!!!" the mid laner then wrote on Hupu (as translated by openl.io). "It was released a while ago, but I'm telling you now because a fan asked."
Fans have since suggested the LCK pro may now become a police or government officer, but any training for those roles wouldn't interfere with his career.
Where Bdd could play next LoL season
Nearly every LCK team — and some overseas organizations — will now be licking their lips knowing Bdd is back on the table for the next LoL campaign. Though the 25-year-old and his KT Rolster squad did end up missing the 2024 World Championship, Bdd still held his status as one of the very best central players in the domestic competition behind icons like Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon, Heo "ShowMaker" Su, and of course Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.
In fact, Bdd actually only ranked behind ShowMaker in the Player of the Game standings in the 2024 LCK Summer season when it came to mid laners. He eventually finished equal fourth overall. It was a strong lift from Spring where he ran 21st with 400 voting points.
One immediate option for Bdd should he want to leave KT Rolster would be Gen.G, though that swap relies on Chovy walking away from the heavyweight Korean organization. Gen.G only has the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational winner contracted through to November (basically the end of Worlds 2024) and could face a tough battle for all comers to keep the 23-year-old.
Other LCK contenders like Hanwha Life, where finals MVP Zeka plays mid, and Dplus KIA, where ShowMaker's signed to 2026, look a little more unlikely for Bdd.
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Bdd should field big money overseas bids
Interest is also expected to flood in from further afield in the LoL world, with China and the Americas both undoubtedly future bidders for Bdd once the Worlds season wraps up in November.
In the Americas League, which will see the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA unified from next year, Team Liquid's Korean-focused project could certainly use a star mid laner. Eain "APA" Stearns has been playing the central role well for the NA squad and still has a Worlds 2024 run to prove he belongs, but with an import slot still available TL would be silly not to stage a Bdd approach.
Korea's arch-rivals the LPL could also become Bdd's home from next year if the cash package is big enough; LNG Esports or Weibo Gaming may come knocking through the LoL offseason if mid laners Lee "Scout" Ye-chan or Li "Xiaohu" Yuan-hao respectively fail to fire at Worlds in Europe.
Bdd may also eventually chose loyalty to KT Rolster over any other move, though if that happens then long-dormant Korean powerhouse may have to consider a roster reshuffle — the best the LCK winners of old have done in the last half-decade was a table-topping regular season campaign in the 2023 LCK Summer Split that only turned into third in the playoffs.
Bdd now has three months to decide his future before the LCK returns in January.
