The LCK returned to form in 2020 and won the League of Legends World Championship.
DAMWON took Korea to new heights, breezing through the group stage of Worlds, taking out domestic rivals DRX in the quarterfinals, settling the score with G2 Esports in the semifinals, and decisively beating Suning in the grand finals.
The next season, though, is all to play for. China will be eager to write its wrongs and reclaim the Summoner’s Cup, and Europe will be right behind it. If Korea wants to defend its title, roster moves will be vital.
Here are all of the LCK roster moves that have been confirmed ahead of the 2021 season.
Afreeca Freecs
Nov. 2 — Afreeca Freecs parted ways with head coach Choi “iloveoov” Yeon-sung after a disappointing 2020 season.
Nov. 3 — Yeon “ActScene” Hyeong-mo and Chae “viNylCat” Woo-cheol, Afreeca Freecs’ remaining coach staff, departed from the organization.
Nov. 3 — Former player Nam “Lira” Tae-yoo joined Afreeca Freecs as a coach.
Nov. 16 — Afreeca Freecs said goodbye to its full lineup.
Dec. 5 —Afreeca Freecs signed former SeolHaeOne Prince mid laner Kim “Keine” Joon-cheol.
Dec. 5 — Afreeca Freecs promoted Han “Rigby” Earl to head coach.
DAMWON Gaming
Nov. 13 — Former SKT and Vici Gaming head coach Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun joined DAMWON Gaming.
Nov. 16 — Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon and Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee entered free agency.
Nov. 18 — DAMWON substitute ADC Shin “Nuclear” Jung-hyun retired from professional League of Legends.
Nov. 20 — Support Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee extended his contract with DAMWON ahead of the 2021 LCK season.
Nov. 27 — DAMWON signed former FunPlus Phoenix top laner Kim “Khan” Dong-ha to replace Nuguri.
DRX
Nov. 16 — DRX parted ways with top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon, mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, ADC Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu, and support Ryu “Keria” Min-seok. Jungler Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon is now the only remaining player on the roster.
Nov. 28 — DRX promoted ADC Jeong “BAO” Hyeon-woo and support Son “Rebeca” Min-woo from academy.
Nov. 28 — DRX signed top laners Hwang “Kingen” Seong-hoon and Yoon “Destroy” Jeong-min.
Fredit BRION
Nov. 2 — Fredit BRION picked up coaches Lee “Drinker” Seung-hoo and Choi “Edgar” Woo-beom for the 2021 season.
Nov. 24 —BRION picked up top laner Yoon “Hoya” Yong-ho from Griffin and strategic coach Kwon “Wraith” Ji-min, formerly of Jin Air Green Wings.
Dec. 4 — Former T1 Academy support Yoo “Crescent” Hwan-joong signed with BRION.
Gen.G
Nov. 11 — Coaches Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon and Yeo “TrAce” Chang-dong step down from Gen.G following their loss to G2 Esports in the quarterfinals of Worlds 2020.
Nov. 17 — Gen.G appointed Ju “oDin” Yeong-dal to head coach, promoted academy coach Kim “Lyn” Da-bin.
Nov. 30 — Gen.G promoted Kim “Karis” Hong-jo from academy, signed former SeolHaeOne Prince jungler Sung “Flawless” Yeon-jun and former Top Esports coach Yu “Ggoong” Byeong-jun
Hanwha Life
Oct. 4 — Jungler Kang “Haru” Min-seung and top laner Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin departed from Hanwha’s Life starting roster after placing ninth in the 2020 LCK Summer Split.
Oct. 15 — Hanwha Life parted ways with mid laner Jeong “Mireu” Jo-bin.
Nov. 19 — Hanwha Life promoted coach Jeong “Max” Jong-been to head coach.
Nov. 23 — Hanwha Life acquired top laner Park “Morgan” Gi-tae, junglers Kim “Winter” Yo-han and Park “Mir” Mi-reu, and ADC Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu.
Nov. 24 — Mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon signed with Hanwha Life.
Nov. 30 — Hanwha Life promoted academy top laner Kang “Riss” Hyeon, ADC Cho “Cheoni” Seung-mo, and support Han “Baut” Jin-sol to the team’s main roster.
KT Rolster
Nov. 16 —Kim “SoHwan” Jun-yeong, Song “Smeb” Kyung-ho, Jeon “Ray” Ji-won, Kim “bonO” Gi-beom, Kim “Malrang” Geun-seong, Lee “Kuro” Seo-haeng, and Park “TusiN” Jong-ik left KT Rolster.
Nov. 17 — KT agreed to part ways with Kim “Aiming” Ha-ram.
Nov. 25 — KT signed former DragonX top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon for the 2021 LCK season.
Nov. 30 — KT acquired Lee “HyBriD” Woo-jin and Park “5kid” Jeong-hyeon, formerly of SeolHaeOne Prince and RunAway.
Dec. 1 — KT promoted academy jungler Lee “Bonnie” Gwang-su and support Lee “Harp” Ji-yoong to the team’s main roster.
Dec. 21 — KT signed jungler Kang “Blank” Sun-gu.
Dec. 27 — Former Liiv SANDBOX mid laner Kim “Dove” Jae-yeon joined KT Rolster.
Liiv SANDBOX
Oct. 12 — After one short split with Sandbox Gaming, Jakob “YamatoCannon” Mebdi left his position as head coach and entered free agency for the 2021 season.
Nov. 14 — Sandbox said goodbye to mid laner Kim “Dove” Jae-yeon.
Nov. 15 — Sandbox and support Kang “GorillA” Beom-hyun mutually agreed to part ways.
Nov. 24 — Sandbox acquired former hyFresh Blade jungler Kim “Croco” Dong-beom.
Dec. 1 — Sandbox signed former T1 support Lee “Effort” Sang-ho.
Nongshim RedForce
Oct. 19 — NS RedForce mid laner Lee “Kuzan” Seong-hyeok and support Kim “GuGer” Do-yeop departed from the team after finishing in eighth place in the 2020 LCK Summer Split.
Oct. 21 —Jungler Kim “Beyond” Kyu-seok retired from professional League, moving to a coaching role in NS RedForce Academy.
Nov. 29 — NS RedForce acquired substitute support Kim “Kellin” Hyeong-gyu from Gen.G.
Nov. 29 — Rookie Chae “Noblesse” Do-joon signed with the team.
Nov. 30 — NS RedForce picked up Han “Peanut” Wang-ho, Lee “Juhan” Ju-han, and Park “Bay” Jun-byeong.
T1
Sept. 13 — Coach Kim Jeong-soo entered free agency following poor results in the 2020 LCK Summer Split.
Oct. 31 — T1 parted ways with coach Lim “Comet” Hye-sung and head of strategy and analytics Gary “Tolki” Mialaret.
Nov. 13 — T1 welcomed head coach Yang “Daeny” Dae-in, assistant coach Lee “Zefa” Jae-min, and academy coach Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong.
Nov. 17 — Former DragonX support Ryu “Keria” Min-seok signed with T1 ahead of the 2021 LCK season.
Nov. 26 — T1 promoted 16-year-old top laner Choi “Zeus” Woo-je to the main roster.
Nov. 27 — T1 demoted substitute top laner Kim “Roach” Kang-hee to academy.
Dec. 1 — T1 said goodbye to support Lee “Effort” Sang-ho.
Dec. 1 — Former T1 academy jungler Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon was promoted to the team’s main roster.
This article will be updated as more roster changes are confirmed throughout the 2021 offseason.
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