Park So-yeon first woman to play for esports powerhouse South Korea

Park So-yeon is set to make history as the first woman to represent South Korea's national esports team. The 23-year-old will compete in the survival horror game Identity V at the Asian Games in Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.

As the only female member of South Korea's 36-member esports team, Park expressed her desire to "go all out and have no regrets" and "pave the way for other women athletes who love playing games as much as I do." She majored in taekwondo during her college years.

Park's selection is significant as South Korea has established itself as a powerhouse in the esports world. The country's team, led by superstar gamer Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, aims to secure a gold medal in the competitive gaming event. Faker gained fame for his role in South Korea's gold-winning League of Legends team at the 2023 Asian Games in China's Hangzhou.

Faker emphasized the importance of fulfilling the high hopes of the South Korean people. He stated, "I will do my very best in my role to ensure that our team wins the championship and brings back the gold medal."

South Korea's esports performance has grown since its debut as an official medal event at the 2023 Asian Games. The country secured two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, ranking second in the overall medal table, behind China. This year's Asian Games will feature 13 different esports games for competition.