LCK Free Agency Tracker [UPDATE]

This LCK off-season is going to be spicy. Some of the most valuable players will have their contracts expire at the end of the year so we might be seeing a whole bunch of changes. Can you imagine Faker retiring? ShowMaker on a team other than DAMWON KIA?

We’re going to go over some of the most valuable free agents the LCK has to offer this off-season. We’ll check out each team and the changes which could take place in the coming weeks. Most contracts expire between November 15 and 21, 2021. Will LCK fans be able to rest easy these coming weeks?

More Prominent Off-Season Drama:

• Is Doublelift Returning? 
  
• Did G2 and C9 collude to stop Perkz from going to Fnatic?
• Where is Jensen going in 2022?

Most Prominent Free Agent: Faker 

Lee “Faker” Sanghyeok. Does he need an introduction? He’s the unkillable demon king and the greatest player to ever play League of Legends. His status as the greatest player ever cannot be disputed with three World Championships under his belt.

So, where will he go in 2022? Some fans are worried that he is going to retire. Already after 2020, many speculated whether he would be retiring since T1 failed to qualify for the 2020 World Championship.

• T1 might not have won Worlds, but Fakers previous student did! 

The team looked good in 2021 at the World Championship but failed to make the finals after pushing DAMWON KIA to a 5-game series. Faker isn’t the explosive solo carry he once was, but now plays the role of leader and control tower of T1. Will we see him in T1 colors again next year in the LCK?

[Update November 19, 2021]

Fans can breathe easy, Faker has re-signed with T1! 

DAMWON KIA Free-Agent Frenzy

The 2020 World Champions, 2021 MSI runner-ups and 2021 Worlds runner-ups are also going to be dealing with free-agent frenzy. Heo “ShowMaker” Su will have his contract expire in November, along with jungler Kim “Canyon” Genbu and support Cho “BeryL” Geonhee.

Will we see these players return to DAMWON KIA next season or are they going to be looking for opportunities elsewhere? With previous top laner Nuguri probably returning to the LCK after a failed stint in the LPL, DAMWON KIA could recreate their 2020 World Championship roster.

[Update December 1, 2021]

DAMWON KIA have officially announced their 2022 roster. ShowMaker and Canyon will be back with the team. 

Best Laner in the World – Chovy

The best laner in the world is none other than former Griffin and DRX mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Jihoon. His contract with Hanwha Life will also be coming to an end in November, which means that anyone looking for a top tier mid laner will have their pickings.

Chovy is probably the best laner in League of Legends and will bring experience, skill to any team. Chovy will likely be the most sought after free agent from Korea. Would he be willing to go overseas for a salary increase?

[Update November 24, 2021]

Chovy has signed with Gen.G.

All LCK Free Agents

Afreeca Freecs

• Top: Signed Yoo "FATE" Su-hyeok from Liiv Sandbox
• Jungle: Lee "Dread" Jin-hyeok --> Signed with Nongshim RedForce
• Jungle: Signed Choi "Ellim" El-lim from T1
• Mid: Song "Fly" Yong-jun
• Bot: Bae "Bang" Jun-sik
• Bot: Signed Park "Teddy" Jin-seong from T1
• Support: Signed Ryu "Hoit" Ho-seong from T1
• Support: Son "Lehends" Si-woo --> Signed with Gen.G

Complete 2022 Roster: 

• Top: Kiin
• Jungle: Ellim
• Mid: FATE
• Bot: Teddy
• Support: Hoit

DWG KIA

• Top: Kim "Khan" Dong-ha --> Entered Free Agency, will enlist in 2022
• Top: Signed Noh "Burdol" Tae-yoon from Gen.G
• Jungle: Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu --> Re-signed with DAMWON KIA
• Mid: Heo "ShowMaker" Su --> Re-signed with DAMWON KIA
• Bot: Kim "Ghost" Yong-jun --> Signed with Nongshim RedForce
• Bot: Signed Seo "Deokdam" Gae-Il from Nongshim RedForce
• Support: Cho "BeryL" Geon-hee --> Released
• Support: Signed Kim "Kellin" Heyong-Gyu from Nongshim RedForce

Complete 2022 Roster: 

• Top: Burdol
• Jungle: Canyon
• Mid: ShowMaker
• Bot: Deokdam
• Support: Kellin

DRX

DRX has no free agents in 2021 off-season. 

• Bot: Signed Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu from Hanwhal Life 

Complete 2022 Roster:

• Top: Kingen
• Jungle: Pyosik
• Mid: Jett
• Bot: Taeyoon/Deft
• Support: Jun

Fredit BRION

• Top: Yoon "Hoya" Yong-ho --> Released. 
• Top: Signed Park "Morgan" Gi-tae from Hanwha Life
• Top: Signed Choi "Sword" Seong-won
• Jungle: Eom "UmTi" Seong-hyeon --> Re-signed with Fredit BRION
• Jungle: Lee "Chieftain" Jae-yub -->Released
• Mid: Kim "Lava" Tae-hoon --> Re-signed with Fredit BRION
• Bot: Park "Hena" Jeung-hwan --> Re-signed with Fredit BRION
• Support: Yoo "Delight" Hwan-joong --> Re-signed with Fredit BRION

Complete 2022 Roster: 

• Top: Morgan/Sword
• Jungle: UmTi
• Mid: Lava
• Bot: Hena
• Support: Delight

Gen.G

• Top: Kim "Rascal" Kwang-hee --> Signed with KT Rolster
• Top: Signed Choi "Doran" Hyeon-jun from KT Rolster
• Top: Noh "Burdol" Tae-yoon --> Signed with DAMWON KIA
• Jungle: Ko "YoungJae" Young-jae
• Jungle: Sung "Flawless" Yeon-jun
• Jungle: Kim "Clid" Tae-min
• Jungle: Signed Han "Peanut" Wang-ho from Nongshim Redforce
• Mid: Gwak "BDD" Bo-seong --> Signed with Nongshim Redforce
• Mid: Signed Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon from Hanwha Life
• Support: Signed Son "Lehends" Si-woo from Afreeca Freecs

Complete 2022 Roster: 

• Top: Doran
• Jungle: Peanut
• Mid: Chovy
• Bot: Ruler
• Support: Legends

Hanwha Life Esports 

• Mid: Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon --> Signed with Gen.G
• Bot: Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu --> Signed with DRX

Complete 2022 Roster

• Top: DuDu
• Jungle: Willer/OnFleek
• Mid: Karis
• Bot: SamD
• Support: Vsta

KT Rolster

• Top: Choi "Doran" Hyeon-jun --> Signed with Gen.G
• Top: Signed Kim "Rascal" Kwang-hee from Gen.G
• Jungle: Kang "Blank" Sun-gu
• Jungle: Signed Moon "Cuzz" Woo-chan from T1
• Mid: Kim "Dove" Jae-yeon --> Signed with Liiv Sanbox
• Mid: Son "Ucal" Woo-hyeon
• Mid: Signed Lee "Aria" Ga-Eul from DetonatioN FocusMe
• Bot: Lee "HyBriD" Woo-jin
• Bot: Signed Kim "Aiming" Ha-ram from Bilibili Gaming
• Support: Jang "Zzus" Joon-soo
• Support: Signed Kim "Life" Jeong-min from Gen.G

Complete 2022 Roster: 

• Top: Rascal
• Jungle: Cuzz
• Mid: Aria
• Bot: Aiming 
• Support: Life

Liiv SANDBOX

• Top: Park "Summit" Woo-tae --> Signed with Cloud9
• Top: Signed Kim "Dove" Jae-yeon from KT Rolster
• Jungle: Kim "OnFleek" Jang-gyeom --> Signed with Hanwha Life
• Mid: Yoo "FATE" Su-hyeok --> Signed with Afreeca Freecs
• Mid: Signed Lee "Clozer" Ju-hyeon from T1
• Bot: Lee "Prince" Chae-hwan
• Bot: Signed Lee "Envyy" Myeong-joon from Gen.G Challengers
• Support: Lee "Effort" Sang-ho --> Signed with Nongshim RedForce
• Support: Signed Kim "Kael" Jin-hong from Gen.G Challengers

Complete 2022 Roster

• Top: Dove
• Jungle: Croco
• Mid: Clozer
• Bot: Envyy
• Support: Kael

NS RedForce

• Top: Lee "Rich" Jae-won
• Top: Signed Kim "Canna" Chang-dong from T1
• Jungle: Signed Lee "Dread" Jin-hyeok from Afreeca Freecs
• Mid: Kim "Gori" Tae-woo --> Signed with Liiv Sanbox
• Mid: Signed Gwak "BDD" Bo-seong from Gen.G
• Bot: Seo "deokdam" Dae-gil --> Signed with DAMWON KIA
• Bot: Signed Jang "Ghost" Yong-jun from DAMWON KIA
• Support: Kim "Kellin" Hyeong-gyu --> Signed with DAMWON KIA
• Support: Signed Lee "Effort" Sang-ho from Liiv Sandbox

Complete 2022 Roster

• Top: Canna
• Jungle: Dread
• Mid: BDD
• Bot: Ghost
• Support: Effort

T1

• Top: Kim "Canna" Chang-dong --> Signed with Nongshim RedForce
• Jungle: Moon "Cuzz" Woo-chan --> Signed with KT Rolster
• Jungle: Choi" Ellim" El-lim --> Signed with Afreeca Freecs
• Mid: Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok --> Re-signed with T1
• Mid: Lee "Clozer" Ju-hyeon --> Signed with Liiv Sandbox
• Bot: Park "Teddy" Jin-seong --> Signed with Afreeca Freecs

Complet 2022 Roster

• Top: Zeus
• Jungle: Oner
• Mid: Faker
• Bot: Gumayusi
• Support: Keria