Popular soloqueue streamer Dopa postpones Korean military service
South Korean streamer and League of Legends player Jeong “Dopa” Sang-gil has announced the postponement of his mandatory military service.
In a YouTube video posted yesterday titled “I got military exemption…“, the 27-year-old explains that, while the video title is somewhat exaggerated and he is not completely exempt, he will be temporarily delaying his conscription to continue his streaming career.
For Dopa and his fellow South Koreans, all males between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to carry out 20 months of compulsory military service, meaning that most streamers and professional players must take an extended break or retire completely to accommodate this. Eligible citizens must enlist before turning 28 years old, and with Dopa’s 28th birthday coming January 8, many fans had expected an imminent announcement surrounding his situation.
Despite his having postponed the enlistment, it is unlikely that this could be much more than a matter of months and, as a result, it’s still to be expected that he will begin his enrolment within the next year.
Dopa had initially flirted with the idea of becoming a professional League of Legends player early in his career, however he was infamously banned from competition for two years, along with a 1000 year ban on his account, after being found guilty of elo-boosting. Ever since that point he has been heralded as the game’s best solo queue player, bouncing from one server to another and consistently earning and maintaining top ranks.
Asia Games 2022 to provide Korean military exemption?
Currently, all South Korean athletes that earn either Olympic or Asia Games gold medals are awarded exemption from their military service, famously giving their entire 2018 Asia Games soccer winning side the opportunity to continue their careers without interference. After esports was included as an exhibition sport at the 2018 competition, it has recently been announced that it will return in 2022 as a medal sport where a South Korean roster could win themselves exemptions.
Fans have already called for legendary mid laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok to participate should League of Legends be included, giving the three-time World Champion a chance at elongating his career if he is able to lead his compatriots to a gold medal.
Read Also
League of Legends
Know My Name: Everything To Know About The Worlds 2026 Anthem
Ben Boland
The Worlds 2026 Anthem is out, and it's headlining all of the conversation as the tournament fast approaches. For the first time in almost a decade, True Damage takes to the stage, starring a new ensemble cast with some familiar faces. The song has divided opinions, to say the least, with most of the noise being the T1 fans, the anti-T1 fans, and fans of True Damage. Stay tuned as ...
League of Legends
Cloud9 vs Karmine Corp Worlds 2026 Play-In: Best Odds and Predictions
Ben Boland
If there was ever a game to bet on at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship, it would be Europe vs North America. Over the years, the intense rivalry between the two regions has delivered some incredible best-of-fives, and this year, we kick off Worlds with Cloud9 vs Karmine Corp. You have coaches going up against their former teams, you have two fanbases who are the most critical of ...
Esports Betting
Who will win LoL Worlds 2026? Predictions for the World Championship
Wasif Ahmed
The League of Legends World Championship starts on October 15 for four weeks of esports in North America. The 19 best teams in LoL compete across three stages, until only one is left to crown as the 2026 World Champion. So, who will win LoL Worlds 2026? Only two regions have won World Championship titles since esports became more established globally in 2013. South Korea leads with ten trophies, and ...
Esports Betting
How to watch LoL Worlds: World Championship schedule and streams
Wasif Ahmed
The League of Legends World Championship starts on October 15. For one month, the 19 best teams will compete until a single one is left to lift the Summoner’s Cup. Here’s how to watch LoL Worlds to follow all the action live. Here are the key dates and times to remember for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. Those dates are also very important to keep in mind for ...
League of Legends
The 2026 LoL Worlds Swiss Stage Explained
Ben Boland
In 2026, the League of Legends World Championship returns with the same format that it adopted in 2023. Apart from play-in rules evolving each year, the rest is identical to 2025. So here’s the 2026 LoL Worlds Swiss Stage explained. The Swiss Stage replaces the former Group Stage as the start of the main event of the League of Legends World Championship. 16 teams compete in it, and by the ...
League of Legends
LoL Worlds Qualified Teams — All 19 Teams at Worlds 2026
Ben Boland
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship is just around the corner and 19 teams from across the globe will duke it out in North America. This year offers plenty of great storylines, as T1 vies for their fourth in a row, Chovy tries to overcome his demons, and the West tries to rise. Let’s take a look at the 19 teams that have qualified for Worlds 2026. The tournament sees ...
League of Legends
LoL Worlds Prize Pool: How Much Is the 2026 Winner Getting?
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship is about to begin and it is one of the game’s most anticipated tournament of the year. With 19 of the best teams battling it out, fans may wonder how large the 2026 Worlds LoL prize pool is. Being one of the largest esports games, it makes sense that there are multiple League of Legends tournaments throughout the year. Even setting the three ...
