Faker Becomes Honorary Korean Police Officer to Help Fight Youth Cyber Gambling
Faker Becomes Honorary Korean Police Officer to Help Fight Youth Cyber Gambling
League of Legends legend Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok has added a rather unusual line to his already legendary résumé. On July 22, South Korea's National Police Agency held an appointment ceremony at its headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, naming Faker an honorary police officer and Cyber Gambling Prevention Ambassador.
Why Faker?
The agency said it chose the League of Legends icon because of his strong public recognition both in South Korea and abroad, as well as the discipline and self-restraint he's shown throughout his career, making him a natural role model for young people. He was given the honorary rank of senior patrol officer, matching the entry-level rank used for officers recruited through the police's cyber investigation career track.
What the role involves
As part of the initiative, Faker will appear in promotional videos and posters encouraging teenagers to voluntarily report their involvement in cyber gambling under a self-reporting program running through the end of August. Speaking at the ceremony, Faker said he felt honored and responsible for the role, and pledged to actively help spread awareness among young people about the dangers of cyber gambling and the self-reporting system.
How the reporting system works
- Korea's National Police Agency has run its youth cyber gambling self-reporting system since May 18, and will keep accepting reports through August 31.
- As of mid-July, authorities had logged over 800 voluntary reports.
- Teenagers who come forward voluntarily receive counseling from school police officers and gambling-prevention specialists, then go through an addiction assessment and, if needed, a referral to treatment.
- In deciding how to handle each case, authorities weigh factors like the amount of money involved, the individual's level of remorse, and progress in treatment, aiming to offer maximum leniency — such as warnings or summary judgment requests — wherever possible.
Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung stressed the importance of catching youth cyber gambling early, before it escalates, and said he hopes Faker's influence will give struggling young people the courage to come forward without hesitation.
The bigger picture
The appointment lands at an interesting moment for the industry. Global estimates from the World Health Organization suggest a meaningful share of both men and women worldwide experience some level of gambling-related harm. Notably, just a year earlier, Riot Games opened the door to sports betting sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends and Valorant teams across the US and EMEA — meaning the same esports ecosystem now embracing betting partnerships has its biggest star fronting a campaign to keep teens away from gambling.
Faker's new "rank" joins an already stacked trophy case: six World Championship titles since his 2013 debut, membership in the ESL Esports Hall of Fame, and the distinction of being the first inductee into Riot's own LoL Esports Hall of Legends.
Sources: Korea Times, VnExpress International, Dexerto, Dot Esports, GosuGamers, Insider Gaming, Inven Global, PC Gamer