League of Legends superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has stepped up to help his fellow South Koreans by donating 50 million Korean won (around $35,000) to support wildfire victims. His team T1 announced the generous contribution on April 1st, saying the money will go to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.
The donation comes at a critical time as devastating wildfires have swept through the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions. The money will help provide emergency supplies, set up temporary shelters, and support people trying to rebuild their lives after losing their homes.
“I hope this can help those affected by the wildfire,” Faker said. “I wanted to lend support so that everyone can return to a stable daily life as soon as possible. I pray that no further damage occurs and that a swift recovery is achieved.”
The situation is pretty serious – over 3,700 homes have burned down in northern Gyeongbuk alone, leaving more than 3,300 residents homeless. Tragically, 26 people have died in the disaster, including a helicopter pilot who crashed while helping fight the fires.
Faker isn’t the only gamer stepping up. His T1 teammates Oner and Zeus have each chipped in 20 million won to help the cause, according to local reports. Players from rival teams, like Chovy, have also opened their wallets for the relief efforts with 20 million won.
This kind of generosity isn’t new for Faker. Back in 2022, he donated 30 million won to help Seoul flood victims. Before that, he also gave 30 million won to COVID-19 charities in 2020 and made another substantial donation in 2022.
Known as “The Unkillable Demon King” in gaming circles, Faker is basically royalty in the esports world. He’s earned nearly $2 million from tournaments alone, and rumors once circulated that his annual salary topped $5 million.
His gaming accomplishments are just as impressive as his charitable giving. He won three world championships and collected multiple MVP awards throughout his career. He was named Esports PC Player of the Year at The Game Awards in both 2023 and 2024 editions. Similarly, in the last two Esports Awards, he was recognized as the world’s best PC player. Riot Games also inducted him into the inaugural Hall of Legends last year.
Hope Bridge, the organization receiving Faker’s donation, has been around since 1961 and has built a solid reputation for managing disaster relief funds transparently.
It’s great to see someone like Faker using his success to make a real difference when his country needs it most.
Discover more from Gaming Foodle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
