Peanut to miss the 2026 season for mandatory military service

Han "Peanut" Wang-ho celebrated his decade-long professional esports career this year. However, he will be absent next season as he fulfills his mandatory military service in South Korea. As one of the best junglers in the world, esports.gg invites you to join us on a journey to remember his greatest moments in League of Legends.

If you’re new to the League of Legends scene, Peanut is a 27-year-old jungler for Hanwha Life Esports who has been a key figure in the game for many years. He spent most of his career with South Korean teams, with a brief stint in the Chinese league. He has been the jungler for major organizations such as SK Telecom T1 (now T1), Gen.G Esports, Nongshim RedForce, and Hanwha Life Esports since 2023.

Over his career, he has won multiple awards and titles, including 12 domestic championships, a KeSPA Cup, one MSI, and a First Stand title. His biggest disappointment was never winning a League of Legends World Championship title.

Over the years, Peanut has become known for mastering many champions, such as Elise, Lee Sin, Vi, Kha’Zix, Olaf, Sejuani, Nidalee, Graves, Maokai, and Poppy. His legacy is undeniable, with countless moments proving him to be one of the best of the best.

In South Korea, all men are required to complete mandatory military service by the age of 30, and Peanut is no exception. However, certain athletes can defer their service if they win a gold medal for the country, an achievement that carries significant cultural impact. In February 2026, Peanut will be 28, which means there is no more time to delay the inevitable.

Peanut claimed victory at the 2017 MSI with SK Telecom T1, but it was his legendary Lee Sin performance against GAM Esports that truly stole the spotlight. During that match, he set a record for the most kills within the first 15 minutes of a professional game, finishing with 15 kills, 14 of which came in just the first 12 minutes.

Facing his former team in the 2018 LCK Spring Playoffs, KZ Peanut delivered a masterclass on Olaf. His unforgettable 11/0/6 performance saw him dominate the game. His relentless ganks and unmatched damage left a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike.

In one of the most memorable Best-of-5 series in Worlds history, ROX Peanut fell to SK Telecom T1 in the 2016 World Championship Quarterfinals. SKT would go on to claim the tournament title. For many old-school fans, this is still one of the best series of the championship. After this match, Peanut was once again far away from reaching the World title.

During his time with Gen.G, Peanut gained fame for his brilliant “1000 IQ” plays on Poppy. Even in solo queue, he experimented with countless builds and strategies on the champion. He was one of the few players to cement himself as one of the best Poppy players.

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