League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) decided not to discipline Park Jae-hyeok of Gen.G Esports, known as "Ruler," who has been embroiled in a tax evasion controversy, drawing backlash from esports fans. Compared with suspensions previously issued for profanity or trolling, fans are saying "the standard is unclear."
The LCK Secretariat said on the 1st that it "made a final decision not to impose separate sanctions regarding (player Ruler)." It cited reasons including that violations of the Punishment of Tax Evaders Act, such as tax evasion, were not recognized and that no criminal punishment was confirmed.
The matter became known when the Tax Tribunal's written decision was disclosed in March. According to the decision, Ruler employed his father, identified as A, as his manager and paid him a salary from 2018 to 2021, during which A invested Ruler's annual salary and prize money in stocks and other assets, earning trading gains and dividend income.
LCK said it formed an investigative committee that included three external members, including legal experts, and examined the facts for about a month to review the matter.
Despite this explanation, fans say they find it hard to accept. They argue that even if it did not lead to criminal punishment, tax avoidance itself is an unethical act that could damage the league's reputation. Under LCK rules, acts damaging dignity can be sanctioned with a fine of up to 10 million won and a one-month suspension.
Lee, a 32-year-old LCK fan, said, "Given that a player who received a military service exemption as a national team member affected the league's reputation, I expected at least some form of discipline," adding, "This decision is hard to accept."
Fairness with past cases is also in question. In 2019, Choi Hyun-joon, known as "Doran" and then with DRX, was suspended for one match and fined 800,000 won for intentional trolling in a ranked game. The sanctions stood even though Doran's side won that game and the player denied intent. In Jan., Park Jae-hyeok, "Ruler," was fined 800,000 won for unsportsmanlike conduct, including in-game verbal abuse.
Addressing the fairness debate, the LCK Secretariat said, "Sanctions are determined based on the rules and fact-finding," adding, "We will continue to make consistent judgments according to the same standards and procedures." It also said, "Cases involving clear legal violations that entail criminal liability, such as violating the Punishment of Tax Evaders Act, will be handled strictly."
As the controversy continues, there are concerns it could negatively affect LCK's popularity. In fact, an unsettled atmosphere has persisted at match venues. Whenever Ruler appears on screen during matches, expressions such as "tax," "eva-," and "gasp" are flooding the chat. Despite some calls to refrain from spamming the chat, unrelated expressions have continued for over a month.
Kim Jeong-tae, a professor in the Department of Game Studies at Dongyang University, said, "If this controversy drags on, it could become a trigger for fissures in the esports league itself," adding, "To restore trust, there is a need to further strengthen ethical standards."