After a surprising exit from T1, where he helped secure a historic three-peat as world champions, Gumayusi is set to reunite with his former teammate Zeus at Hanwha Life Esports, continuing his journey and strengthening his legacy as one of the greatest AD carries League of Legends has ever seen.
HLE announced on Nov. 23 that they have signed Gumayusi as their bot laner for the 2026 League esports season. “Hanwha Life Esports is pleased to announce the addition of Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyung as our new bot laner. With his exceptional performance and extensive experience, Gumayusi will help lead Hanwha Life Esports toward even greater heights. We kindly ask for your continued support as we begin our journey with Gumayusi in the 2026 season.”
The Worlds 2025 MVP has spent a considerable amount of time with star top laner Zeus, as both of them were promoted from the academy T1 roster to the main team. They were part of the iconic ZOFGK (Zeus–Oner–Faker–Gumayusi–Keria) roster that delivered back-to-back Worlds victories for T1.
The existing chemistry between Gumayusi and Zeus is highly expected to help HLE establish a stable core around which the rest of the roster can grow.
Gumayusi’s move also arrives amid mounting concern over the cyberbullying directed at him, which was recently condemned by a Korean government official. The lawmaker has called on Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) and Riot Korea to take stronger action to address and prevent such harassment within the esports community.
HLE didn’t have a bad 2025 by any measure. The team opened the year by winning the LCK Cup, earning a spot at the First Stand tournament, and proceeded to win that as well. However, they fell short of expectations afterward, missing MSI 2025 and suffering an early exit at Worlds. In response, the organization opted for further changes, parting ways with veteran AD carry Viper to bring in Gumayusi.
Alongside Gumayusi, Top Esports’ veteran jungler Kanavi is also returning to the LCK, taking the role of Peanut, who enjoyed his final competitive year before stepping away to fulfill mandatory military service in South Korea.
Apart from these two major roster changes, the team’s existing core of Zeus, Zeka, and Delight, along with the existing coaching staff, remains intact, giving HLE a stable foundation as they enter the 2026 season.
