Kha Y Tran South Korea has officially unveiled its preliminary roster for the Asian Games 2026 League of Legends event. As expected, the announcement features many of the biggest stars in the League of Legends Champions Korea. However, the most surprising detail is that the full ZOFGK lineup from T1 will not reunite.
Even so, the roster remains packed with elite talent. More importantly, Lee Sang-hyeok will once again lead South Korea as they look to defend their gold medal.
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South Korea’s Preliminary League of Legends Roster for Asian Games 2026
According to the Korea e-Sports Association, six players were selected for the final shortlist:
- Top Lane: Choi Woo-je
- Jungle: Kim Geon-bu
- Mid Lane: Kim Geon-woo
- Mid Lane / Team Captain: Lee Sang-hyeok
- AD Carry: Lee Min-hyeong
- Support: Ryu Min-seok
If no changes are made during the final approval stage, this group will represent South Korea in Aichi-Nagoya.
No Full ZOFGK Lineup
TFor many fans, this was the biggest surprise. ZOFGK stands for:
- Zeus
- Oner
- Faker
- Gumayusi
- Keria
This iconic lineup helped T1 win multiple international titles. Therefore, many supporters hoped to see the five stars reunite on the national team.
However, Mun Hyeon-jun did not make the cut. Instead, Canyon secured the jungle position.
As a result, South Korea chose current form and experience over a full T1 reunion.
Faker Set for His Second Straight Asian Games Appearance
Once again, Faker will represent South Korea. Although his selection was widely expected, it remains a major storyline. After all, he is still the most decorated player in League of Legends history.
At the Asian Games 2022, Faker helped South Korea win the gold medal without dropping a single game. Since then, he has continued to perform at the highest level.
Therefore, his leadership and composure will be essential.
Three Returning Gold Medalists
Notably, South Korea retained three players from the championship-winning Hangzhou roster: Faker, Zeus and Keria.
Because of this, the team still has a strong foundation.
In addition, these players already know what it takes to succeed under the pressure of a major international event.
Three Players to Make Their Asian Games Debut
Meanwhile, three stars will make their Asian Games debut:
- Canyon
- Zeka
- Gumayusi
All three have delivered outstanding performances in the LCK. Moreover, each player has proven that they can carry games against world-class competition.
As a result, they earned their spots on merit.
Why Were Oner, Chovy, and Viper Left Out?
Inevitably, several superstar players were excluded from the final shortlist.
The most notable names are:
- Mun Hyeon-jun
- Jeong Ji-hoon
- Park Do-hyeon
Canyon Beat Oner
Although Oner has been outstanding for T1, Canyon offered more long-term consistency.
Furthermore, his experience and champion versatility likely gave him the edge.
Faker and Zeka Beat Chovy
Chovy remains one of the best mid laners in the world. Nevertheless, KeSPA valued Faker’s leadership and Zeka’s recent results.
Consequently, Chovy narrowly missed out.
Gumayusi Beat Viper
Viper had a strong case. However, Gumayusi’s synergy with Keria was a major advantage.
Therefore, the coaching staff chose the established bot lane duo.
KeSPA’s Selection Criteria
According to KeSPA, player performances from 2024 to 2026 were considered.
Included Tournaments
- LCK
- KeSPA Cup
- World Championship
Excluded Tournaments
- Mid-Season Invitational
- Esports World Cup
- First Stand Tournament
Key Metrics
Selectors reviewed:
- KDA
- Kill participation
- Damage dealt
- Champion pool
- Gold difference at 14 minutes
- CS difference at 14 minutes
- Vision score
In addition, each role was evaluated using specific metrics.
For example, junglers were judged on first-blood involvement, counter-jungling, and objective control.
Strengths of South Korea’s 2026 Roster
On paper, this lineup has almost everything.
Main Advantages
- Faker provides leadership and experience.
- Canyon offers consistency.
- Zeus is a world-class top laner.
- Zeka adds flexibility.
- Gumayusi and Keria have elite synergy.
Moreover, the roster combines veterans and players in peak form.
As a result, South Korea has both star power and strong team chemistry.
South Korea Remains the Favorite for Gold
Naturally, South Korea enters the tournament as the leading contender.
Their biggest rivals are expected to be:
- China
- Taiwan
- Vietnam
Even so, South Korea appears to have the deepest and most balanced roster in the field.
Therefore, they are widely viewed as the team to beat.
Community Reaction
As expected, the announcement sparked mixed reactions.
On one hand, many fans were disappointed that the full ZOFGK lineup will not reunite.
On the other hand, many agreed that Canyon is the strongest available jungler.
Still, most fans share one belief: as long as Faker is on the roster, South Korea can win gold again.
Final Thoughts
Overall, South Korea’s preliminary roster for Asian Games 2026 reflects a smart balance of experience, current form, and team synergy. Although the full ZOFGK lineup is absent, the team remains stacked with world-class talent.
With Faker, Canyon, Zeus, Zeka, Gumayusi, and Keria, South Korea once again looks like the clear favorite to win the gold medal.
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Quynh Bui 
