오락실서 키운 ‘뿅두박근의 힘’ 보라…철권 ‘무릎’ 배재민의 첫 AG 도전

A man who debuted as a professional gamer in his late twenties, known as "Knee" (Chaejeom "Baejamineum" Baehyam), has been selected for the first time to compete in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya. This journey began in a gaming arcade where Baehyam first fell in love with the world of esports, inspired by the battles of animated animal characters.

It took him nine years to turn his passion into a profession, joining the ROX Gaming team upon being offered a contract in 2017. Baehyam shared his thoughts on the occasion with the Hankyoreh newspaper, reminiscing about the excitement of becoming a professional athlete for the first time. This year's competition features a team-based tournament called "Knee" and "King of Fighters XV," with three games in total: Street Fighter VI, Knee, and King of Fighters XV.

The rules are simple, with one-on-one matches and a best-of-three format. Baehyam, ranked first in the knee world, won the national team trial event in May 2022 and earned his first taekwondo mark. The nickname "Knee" has a personal meaning, derived from the signature move of the character Brian, involving the use of the knee. Baehyam has grown accustomed to the name and sees no reason to change it.

Competing in a major international event like the Asian Games is an unexpected opportunity for him, and he feels both excitement and responsibility to perform well. The knee world ranking 1st, Baehyam recently overcame the challenges of adapting to a new game system with Knee 8. He has focused on mental resilience and maintaining his physical condition, averaging six hours of practice each day and using foreign competitions to maintain his real-life instincts.

As the competition approaches, Baehyam plans to stay in a dormitory with his teammates for intensive training. In this team-oriented format, teamwork is crucial, with King of Fighters XV's "big brother" I Guang-nou (45) and Street Fighter VI's younger brother Jung Geulgil (39) joining the team. Baehyam expressed relief at finally receiving the taekwondo mark and emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong mindset, even in the face of tough opponents like Japan and recently strong Pakistan. He vowed to give his best, even if challenged, in pursuit of a gold medal.