South Korea’s first female eSports international Park So-yeon wants to make sure she is not the last

SEOUL, August 27 — Park So-yeon is poised to become South Korea’s first female representative on the national eSports team, aspiring to set the stage for more women in the traditionally male-dominated arena of competitive gaming. As South Korea boasts a thriving eSports scene, Park has secured her spot on the 36-member team headed to Japan for the Asian Games in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi region from September 19 to October 4.

The 23-year-old, the sole woman in the group, declared her determination to "go all out and have no regrets" before the competition. Park, who earned her degree in taekwondo studies, voiced her responsibility, stating, "Since I am the first, I feel a great responsibility to pave the way for other women athletes who share my passion for gaming."

South Korea’s powerhouse eSports team, led by superstar player Lee Sang-hyeok—known popularly as Faker—will be competing in the survival horror game Identity V. Faker, a key member of the squad that claimed gold in League of Legends at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, expressed his commitment, saying, "Since the South Korean people have high hopes for the eSports category, I want to fulfill that hope and give them back pride and honor."

He pledged to deliver his best effort to secure victory and bring home a gold medal for his country.

With eSports earning official medal status at the 2023 Asian Games, South Korea emerged as runners-up, trailing China. This year’s tournament features 13 distinct eSports games, marking an increase in the number of competitions compared to previous editions.