KeSPA hands Ruler 40 hours of community service and €11,370 fine over tax case

The Korean Esports Association (KeSPA) has handed down its disciplinary decision on Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk's tax case, sentencing the Gen.G bot laner to 40 hours of community service and a 20 million KRW (≈ €11,370) disciplinary surcharge, according to a statement published on June 17 by KeSPA's Sports Fair Committee.

The decision closes a months-long review that began after the Tax Tribunal's March 26 dismissal of Ruler's appeals against two tax rulings — one concerning his father's labour costs not being recognised as deductible business expenses, the other a nominal trust arrangement on stocks registered under his father's name. Multiple complaints were subsequently filed with KeSPA, arguing the affair had damaged esports' public standing.

In its statement, KeSPA's committee confirmed that Ruler had fully paid the amounts owed and that the nominally held stocks had been returned to his name. It also took into account the absence of any criminal proceedings against him. However, the committee ruled that the broader social impact of the case — combined with Ruler's status as a former two-time Asian Games medallist (silver in 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, gold in 2022 Hangzhou) and the heightened standard of conduct expected from a national team-level professional — justified a sanction.

The sanction was issued under Article 33-1-4 of KeSPA's Sports Fair Committee regulations, which covers "severely damaging the dignity expected of an esports professional." The committee framed the decision as a precedent meant to "clearly establish the standards of responsibility and ethics expected from players and stakeholders" in an esports ecosystem that, in its words, is "growing as an institutional sport based on social trust."

The LCK had separately concluded its own internal investigation into the case earlier this year without imposing additional sanctions. No competitive suspension was handed down by KeSPA either. Ruler remains eligible to play, including for Gen.G's upcoming trip to Paris for the Esports World Cup later this summer.