LCK set to enter new franchise team model in 2021
The LCK is officially franchising in 2021.
Riot Games Korea has announced its plan to adopt a franchise model in 2021. The LCK is the fourth and final major region to transition into a long-term partnership with competing teams and organizations.
Organizations interested in taking part in the new league will have to submit a business plan, a team operation plan, and a fundraising plan. Teams must detail things like intended strategy for expanding the current fanbase, the recruiting and training process for players, and plans to ensure the players’ rights are upheld.
The application process starts on May 8. Riot will announce the new members of the LCK in late September.
What are the implications of franchising in the LCK?
The LCK is raising the minimum salary for players to 60 million Korean won, roughly $49,000 USD. That amount is only a starting point, as most players are likely to receive better salaries as they enter multi-year contracts with their teams. In the LCS, the minimum salary is $75,000 USD, but it was revealed that the average is around $300,000.
Teams that are part of a franchised league cannot be relegated. The promotion tournament will be played one last time at the end of the 2020 LCK Spring Split. Challengers Korea, the secondary league, will be replaced with the LCK Academy league.
Challengers Korea is an important part of the ecosystem. Teams like Griffin, Sandbox Gaming, and Damwon Gaming found their way into the LCK after successful runs in the secondary league. According to the announcement, the LCK will support the migration of players from Challengers to the new LCK rosters.
This migration might prove to be difficult, considering that most of the teams have plenty of trainees and subs already on contract.
Now the big question is which of the current teams in the LCK will return in 2021?
There are some big companies involved in the LCK at the moment. Gen.G and T1 are partially owned by western companies. KT Rolster is owned by one of the biggest telecommunication companies in South Korea. Afreeca Freecs is backed by Korean streaming service Afreeca TV. Hanwha Life Esports belongs to one of Korea’s biggest insurance companies, Hanwha Life.
Gen.G and T1 already expressed their wish to be part of the newly franchised league.
It remains unclear how many teams will be part of the LCK. The league might go for ten, like the LCS and LEC. Or it might go the LPL route and allow for more than ten franchised teams.
Read Also
League of Legends
League of Legends 2026 MSI preview: Teams, schedule, rewards
Hannan Mundia
2026’s MSI is on the horizon, with cash prizes and a guaranteed spot at this year’s World Championship on the line. Some favorites have proven their skills, as well as underdogs that have a chance to cause an upset. This preview highlights the tournament’s teams, schedule, and potential rewards for those who perform well. Eleven teams have qualified for this year’s MSI, but that doesn’t mean that every team is ...
Esports Betting
Why is the League of Legends MSI the LPL’s tournament?
Wasif Ahmed
In League of Legends, South Korea almost always wins the World Championship. However, it’s the LPL that has won more than half of the Mid-Season Invitationals since their launch in 2015. So why is MSI the LPL’s tournament? And what can we expect for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational next week? First off, let’s have a look at the history and stats for the two regions at the LoL Worlds and ...
League of Legends
Fnatic founder denies rumors of organization being sold
Hannan Mundia
Fnatic founder and CEO Sam Mathews denied that the organization is set to be sold in the coming weeks. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Fnatic has seen much better days. The team’s League of Legends and CS2 rosters have been seeing multiple recent changes, and the VALORANT team’s performance has been mixed this year. Considering the team’s performance, it didn’t surprise many when reports that the organization was ...
League of Legends
Hanwha Life Esports defeats T1 to qualify for MSI
Hannan Mundia
After a surprisingly one-sided match, Hanwha Life Esports defeated the reigning champions T1 to qualify for MSI at the 2026 LCK Road to MSI. The LCK is by far considered the strongest League of Legends region. While T1 and Gen.G’s rivalry is iconic, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that recent roster changes put HLE on the same playing field as the two giants. The addition of Zeus and ...
Esports Betting
T1 vs Gen.G 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK Road to MSI is almost over, with T1 and Gen.G having one last rematch in this split to determine which team qualifies for MSI. Both teams are in excellent shape, though T1’s recent loss against Hanwha Life Esports may put it at a disadvantage. Gen.G is looking extremely strong currently, and the clean sweep against KT Rolster proves that the team means business. Tournament: 2026 LCK Season ...
Esports Betting
Bilibili Gaming vs Team WE: Best betting odds and picks for the LPL Split 2 2026
Wasif Ahmed
Bilibili Gaming faces Team WE in the LPL Split 2 playoffs, with neither team expected to be in the lower final. Everyone thought that BLG would go through the upper bracket and that WE would lose in the first round. Yet Team WE were the ones who knocked BLG down to the lower bracket. Now, the two teams rematch for the LPL’s final spot at Mid-Season Invitational. Tournament: LPL Split ...
Esports Betting
Gen.G vs KT Rolster 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI 2026
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK Road to MSI split is in full swing, with Gen.G and KT Rolster about to face off in round four to determine which team competes for a chance to qualify for MSI. Gen.G may be one of the strongest professional teams in the region, but KT Rolster has taken down the fan-favorite last year at Worlds when the stakes were higher than ever. The looming question here ...
