Gumayusi abuse called out by Korean politician in bid to improve player protection

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 20/11/2025

Following excessive abuse targeting former T1 League of Legends player Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyung, a Korean politician has spoken out in defence of esports players.  

Representative Jeon Yong-gi from the Democratic Party of Korea released a statement online demanding that the Korean eSports Association (KeSPA, Riot Games Korea, and esports organisations do more to protect esports players.

Why is Gumayusi at the centre of new calls for player protection?

Gumayusi recently departed from T1, breaking up the legendary OFGK quartet (Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, and Keria – previously ZOFGK when Zeus was also playing for the roster). 

Despite his long tenure on T1 and three League of Legends World Championship titles, Gumayusi faced sustained abuse and harassment from a T1 fan group. 

The group, commonly known as “T1 Gall” or “T1 Support Gallery”, was a forum for Korean T1 fans. However, they frequently targeted Gumayusi and his family, particularly during his last two years on the team.  

This targeted abuse and harassment included malicious slander, repeated comment attacks, stalking, hiring protest trucks with insulting messages to T1 headquarters, and even delivering funeral wreaths. 

Fans have repeatedly accused T1 of failing to respond adequately to this abuse. 

Notably, T1 never released a statement on the issue or condemned the behaviour. 

Politician Jeon Yong-gi calls for better esports player protection

On November 20th, Representative Jeon Yong-gi from the Democratic Party of Korea released a statement online titled “Stop the cyberbullying of Lee Min-hyung (Gumayusi) immediately.” 

In this statement, he specifically referenced the actions of T1 Gall, stating, “I deeply regret the behaviour of some community users, such as the ‘T1 Support Gallery’, who have been cyberbullying [Gumayusi] for a long time, and I urge them to stop immediately.”

Jeon Yong-gi proceeded to suggest that esports organisations, esports platform operators, and national governments (in particular, the Korean National Assembly) need to ensure the better protection of esports players. 

He also stressed that “this cyberbullying goes beyond just Gumayusi; all esports players deserve protection.” 

This elevation of cyberbullying, abuse, and harassment concerns to national political bodies is a significant step forward for better esports player protection in the future. 

League of Legends fans react to Joen Yong-gi’s support for Gumayusi

Many League of Legends fans are relieved that more attention is being paid to player harassment and abuse. 

Some even praised the mental fortitude necessary for a player to withstand the abuse that Gumayusi faced. 

One comment by ‘alice-lilly’ on a Reddit thread discussing the issue expressed the following observation on the potential future of esports if this pattern of behaviour from fans continues:

“It’s really scary… the same harassment Gumayusi received could have caused someone with weak mental to commit suicide. 

Guma is amazing, he proved himself and shut those haters down. But imagine another scenario, like it’s someone else playing for the most popular org, being pressured to play well because of the fans. And suddenly their skills declined, and they lost the game in an important match. 

The harassment will become more insane. 

It will cause a huge drama when a pro player committed suicide for the first time because of harassment. Esports will never be the same.” 

Fans also compared the treatment of esports players to that of K-pop stars. 

Korea has a long-standing struggle with the pressure, abuse, harassment, and overall problematic treatment of K-pop artists. Now, the same issues are increasingly recognised in esports. 

Another fan turned a mirror on the League of Legends community, expressing their shock at the “lack of compassion to someone suffering unfairly” and at others who “oversimplified the issue.” 

Overall, Joen Yong-gi’s use of Gumayusi to demonstrate the need for greater player protection has prompted vital discussion and reflection on the presence of harassment and abuse in esports ecosystems. 

If Korean politicians take Yong-gi’s recommendations on board, the country may set new standards for esports player protection worldwide. 

At the very least, progress is essential. 

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

All Posts By Hannah Marie ZT