Faker talks money, girls, and esports stardom on Radio Star

Olivia Richman Published 03/01/2020

The Unkillable Demon King himself appeared on the January 1 episode of Radio Star.

League of Legends star Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joined Super Junior singer Kim Hee-chul and comedian Ahn Youg Mi on an episode of MBC Entertainment’s popular show, along with musician Kim So Hyun and makeup artist Jung Saem Mool.

“This is one of the three leaders bringing Korea to the world, besides Son Heung Min and BTS,” the MCs said when introducing Faker.

Faker is one of the biggest names in League of Legends and in esports in general. He recently won his 100th international game at the 2019 World Championship, leaving second-place record holder bot laner Bae “Bang” Jun-sik in the dust with only has 76 international wins. He was also listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 ranking.

Faker is so successful in League of Legends that he was reportedly offered a blank check or an annual 10 billion won salary if he played for foreign countries. But on Radio Star, Faker revealed that he turned down those offers in order to continue playing in Korea.

“I want to show fans my images as a Korean representative,” Faker said.

Faker said he hadn’t even considered the increased income. In fact, money didn’t seem to be a big motivation for Faker, even though he’s one of the highest paid esports players in the world. After Hee-chul admitted he had spent around $34,600 on mobile games, Faker told the panel that he spent less than $170 a month.

The League legend said he wants to donate his earnings to charity in the future.

Faker also admitted that relationships are not a big desire of his either. He said he was a calm person who enjoyed simply staying at home during his spare time.

“Being a pro gamer made me realize that the amount of time I have for myself is very limited. Being in a relationship will cause lots of uncomfortable things to both sides. Currently, I just focus on working. Since I was little, I didn’t care much about girls,” Faker revealed.

While ruling out women has helped Faker stay focused on League of Legends, it’s made him appear a bit on the wholesome side. On Radio Star, Faker was noticably uncomfortable and embarassed when his co-stars brought up anything dirty.

At one point, Hee-chul recalled some explicit questions he was asked while filming a variety show in Mexico. This prompted Ahn Young Mi to make a dirty joke at Faker’s expense. In response, Faker appeared to blush and then silently drank some water. He continued to stay close-lipped and red-cheeked when the audience reacted to the banter by throwing underwear onto the stage.

Faker drank even more water as his co-hosts started discussing kissing and other intimate topics. This made Faker appear quite wholesome to his fans, and perhaps even more appealing to those who enjoy his squeeky clean image.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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