Will pro gamer Faker be buried in the National Cemetery?

Faker, right, with President Lee Jae Myung / Korea Times photo by Want Tae-seok

Is professional gamer Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker and hailed as a “League of Legends legend,” considered a national merit recipient? Is he eligible for burial at the National Cemetery after he dies?

These questions surfaced online after Faker received the Blue Dragon Sports Medal, the highest grade of South Korea’s sports honor, from President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 2.

On Jan. 22, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs addressed public curiosity through its official social media channels, explaining what the honor does and does not entail.

The ministry said Faker’s award places him alongside figures such as marathoner Sohn Kee-chung, former national football coach Guus Hiddink, golfer Pak Se-ri, figure skating star Kim Yuna and Premier League footballer Son Heung-min, adding that Faker is the first-ever e-sports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Sports Medal.

The Sports Medal is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of sports and the promotion of public fitness. It is divided into five grades, with the Blue Dragon Medal representing the highest distinction. The honor reflects the state’s assessment of Faker’s lasting impact on the growth and global recognition of e-sports.

In response to the question, the ministry clarified that Faker is not considered a national merit recipient. The Blue Dragon Sports Medal is not included among those defined under Article 4 of the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Services to the State. As a result, on the basis of this award, neither Faker nor his descendants receive benefits reserved for national merit recipients.

As for burial at the National Cemetery, the ministry said it is possible but not automatic. Sports medal recipients qualify as contributors to national and social development under Article 5 of the Act on the Establishment and Management of National Cemeteries, meaning they meet the minimum eligibility requirement for burial consideration.

However, final approval requires review by the Burial Eligibility Review Committee. The ministry cited the case of Sohn Kee-chung, a national marathon hero who died in 2002. After being posthumously awarded the Blue Dragon Sports Medal, Sohn was approved for burial at Daejeon National Cemetery following committee deliberation.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.