Korean Congressman Cosplays as League of Legends Character to Celebrate SK Telecom T1’s Victory
League of Legends is incredibly popular in Korea, with even politicians getting in on the action. Congressman Jun Byung-hun, chairman of the Korea eSports Association, pledged to cosplay as a League of Legends character and share the photos online if the Korean team SK Telecom T1 emerged as the winners of this year’s World Championship. When the team secured the victory, Rep. Jun kept his promise and uploaded some fantastic pictures of himself dressed as the character Gragas on his Twitter account.
Gaming and Controversy in Korea
Gaming is a massive pastime in Korea, but it has not escaped controversy. Many older people are critical of the younger generation’s interest in video games. However, Kotaku has reported that Rep. Jun’s support for gamers has made him a valuable ally. They noted, “In a country where there’s a gaming ‘Shutdown Law’ and some in the older generation don’t get gaming, Korean gamers need every friend they can get—and this politician seems like he’s in their court.”
Money Talks
Jun’s advocacy for gamers is further strengthened by the fact that League of Legends is one of the most popular and profitable eSports in the world. Moreover, gaming in Korea is poised to become a $5 billion industry, a monetary language that transcends generations.
Source: Kotaku, Photos via Twitter
League of Legends, Esports, Korea, SK Telecom T1, Cosplay, Politician, Gaming controversy