Korean Politician Calls Out Gumayusi Abuse in Push for Stronger Esports Player Protection

A South Korean lawmaker has taken a public stand against the cyberbullying campaign targeting former T1 League of Legends player Lee 'Gumayusi' Min-hyeong, calling for stronger protections for esports athletes nationwide.

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Jeon Yong-gi issued a statement on November 20 calling for immediate action from esports bodies following sustained cyberbullying targeting Gumayusi, the MVP of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship finals. Jeon stated that attacks against the player had gone far beyond acceptable limits, urging an immediate end to what he called long-running, targeted abuse.

The harassment came primarily from a Korean T1 fan group known as "T1 Gall" or "T1 Support Gallery," which frequently targeted Gumayusi and his family during his last two years with the team. The targeted abuse included malicious slander, repeated comment attacks, stalking, hiring protest trucks with insulting messages sent to T1 headquarters, and even delivering funeral wreaths.

Jeon dismissed the group's claims of being a "fan community," characterizing their actions instead as cyberbullying for entertainment and profit-driven cyber wrecking. He noted that the harassment continued even after Gumayusi departed from T1, raising questions about whether their motives were ever rooted in genuine fandom.

Jeon urged KeSPA, Riot Korea, and esports clubs to stop acting as bystanders and implement real player protection measures, particularly for young athletes vulnerable to sustained online abuse. He stressed that this cyberbullying goes beyond just Gumayusi, emphasizing that all esports players deserve protection.

Critics have accused T1 of failing to adequately protect Gumayusi, with fans noting the organization never released a public statement condemning the behavior. Gumayusi recently left T1 after winning three consecutive World Championships with the organization.