[Anchor]

League of Legends global superstar Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok, who will compete as a national team member in the Nagoya Asian Games, has shared his aspirations. Following the previous Hangzhou Games, he expressed confidence in winning consecutive gold medals.

Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

Starting from Jakarta in 2018, followed by Hangzhou three years ago, and now this year's Nagoya Games, this marks his third Asian Games. Yet, wearing the Taegeuk mark still carries a unique weight for Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok.

[Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker) / National Esports LoL Team for the Asian Games: I think it is definitely a tournament of great weight because it is a competition that not only gaming fans but the general public can watch.]

He won his first gold medal at the Hangzhou Games three years ago, and his vivid memories of enjoying immense popularity in the athletes' village remain fresh.

[Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker) / National Esports LoL Team for the Asian Games: During the last Asian Games, well, it wasn't quite up to 1,000 people, but I did take a lot of pictures (at the athletes' village). I consider that a very grateful experience.]

With rival China sitting out this tournament, winning back-to-back gold medals looks promising, but he vowed not to let his guard down.

[Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker) / National Esports LoL Team for the Asian Games: Watching (Taiwanese player) Hongqiu play, I thought he was very good, so I will never let my guard down. I want to bring a lot of pride to the people, and I will do my best to win the gold medal.]

Among the 11 events in this year's esports competition, the South Korean national team will send 36 athletes across 9 events. Notably, Park So-yeon will compete in the survival game Identity V, becoming the first-ever female national esports player.

[Park So-yeon / National Identity V Team for the Asian Games: Since I am the first, I feel I need to pave the way smoothly so that more female athletes can emerge in the future.]

After solidifying their teamwork through a bootcamp training session in Busan, the national team will depart for Nagoya with a target of winning five gold medals.

[Fighting!]

(Camera: Hwang In-seok, Video Editing: Park Jung-sam, Design: Jeon Yu-geun)