Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk Fined Ahead of 2026 LCK Cup

It was recently reported that the well-known Gen.G player, Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk, started his journey into the 2026 LCK Cup with a setback. The respected and experienced AD carry has been penalized with a fine of 800,000 KRW, equivalent to about $550, due to instances of verbal abuse witnessed during his in-game performances on his ranked account.

According to additional research, it was found that this is not the first time Ruler has been fined for such behavior. He had been previously fined the same amount by the LCK for persistent cases of in-game verbal abuse throughout the year 2025.

The Player’s Disciplinary Record

Ruler’s disciplinary history showed that he received an official written warning in March 2025 followed by a chat restriction due to his verbal abuse. On January 5, 2026, during the LCK’s account review, it was discovered that he had received another 7-day chat restriction in October 2025, classifying him as a repeat offender. This pattern of misconduct led to the financial penalty being enforced.

Understanding LCK’s Penalty System

In an attempt to set a precedent for the larger League of Legends gaming community, the LCK has implemented an official penalty structure for in-game verbal abuse. The structure of this system includes:

• A formal written warning for the first offense
• A fine of up to 1 million KRW (~$680) and/or up to a 3-game suspension for the second offense
• A fine of up to 3 million KRW (~$2,050) and/or up to a 10-game suspension for the third offense.

In the case of Ruler, his fine of 800,000 KRW falls within the range for a second offense. However, it is on the relatively lower spectrum of the scale, which suggests that the LCK deemed his behavior to be of moderate severity.

A Glimpse into the Bigger Picture

In a continued effort to maintain the integrity of the competition, the LCK periodically scrutinizes all registered players’ accounts. This scrutiny also extends to the second-tier LCK CL competitors. The aim behind this thorough oversight is to identify and curb any unethical behavior, thereby upholding the spirit of fair competition among the players.