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

SEOUL - Park So-yeon, a 23-year-old esports athlete, is poised to make history as the first woman to represent South Korea's national team in competitive gaming. The powerhouse nation's esports sector is set to shine at the Asian Games, held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi region from September 19 to October 4.

As the only female member of the 36-strong esports team, Park expressed her determination to excel in the male-dominated arena. "Since I am the first, I feel a great responsibility to pave the way for other women athletes who love playing games as much as I do," she stated. Park, who majored in taekwondo during her college years, is prepared to give her all and leave no regrets.

South Korea's esports team boasts a star player in Lee Sang-hyeok, widely known as Faker. The prodigious gamer was part of the team that clinched gold in League of Legends at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Faker expressed his intention to fulfill the high hopes of the Korean people and bring back pride and honor for the country. "I will do my very best in my role to ensure that our team wins the championship and brings back the gold medal," he vowed.

The Asian Games have embraced esports as an official medal event, with South Korea showcasing their prowess in 13 different games. The country previously secured two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze during the 2023 Asian Games, placing them second in the medals table behind China.