[EDIT] The LCK officially confirmed to RFT an internal investigation into Ruler's tax controversy :
"We have been made aware of this situation and initiated a review in line with our internal investigative processes."
Gen.G's ADC finds himself at the center of a growing storm as South Korea's tax authorities confirm a nominal trust violation — and the league weighs its next move.
The Korean League of Legends community was shaken this week as a tax evasion controversy surrounding Gen.G star Park "Ruler
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" Jae-hyuk escalated into a full-blown public affair, with the LCK now openly reviewing whether disciplinary action is warranted.
What Happened
According to documents published on South Korea's National Tax Law Information System on March 26, and first reported by Korean outlet Inven, the National Tax Service (NTS) determined that Park Jae-hyuk had evaded taxes through a nominal trust arrangement — a legal structure in which assets are registered under another person's name, typically a family member, rather than the actual owner's. In Ruler's case, the assets had been placed under his father's name.
Ruler's side appealed the ruling to the Tax Tribunal, but the appeal was dismissed. The player is now liable for the resulting tax obligations.
The Agency's Response
Ruler's management company, Supergent, was quick to issue a statement via Instagram, seeking to frame the situation in a more sympathetic light.
The agency insisted that the funds in question were personal assets on which 100% income tax had already been duly paid at the time they were earned, and that the affair amounted to a case of "administrative negligence resulting in a tax imposition" during the asset management process — not deliberate tax fraud.
Photo Credit: SuperAgent_KR on Instagram
Supergent explained that Ruler's father had quit his own job since his son's trainee days to provide full-time support, managing both the player's schedule and finances. Prior to the formalization of licensed agency regulations in Korean e-sports, the father had also acted as an informal agent in team contract negotiations.
Given the practical constraints of a player in-season — unable to personally handle routine banking verification — the father managed the assets under his own name as a matter of convenience. According to the statement, there was never any intent to make a gift or transfer ownership, but a gift tax was nonetheless triggered by the nominal trust arrangement under Korean tax law. Supergent confirmed that the full amount of that gift tax has since been paid, and that the assets have been returned entirely to Ruler's name.
The agency closed its statement with an apology to fans and a pledge to conduct asset management more rigorously going forward.
Ruler Speaks Out
Following the agency statement, Ruler himself broke his silence with a personal message on Instagram — notably more direct and detailed than Supergent's initial communication.
The player acknowledged two distinct issues: the NTS's refusal to recognize his father's labor costs as deductible business expenses, and the nominal trust arrangement on the stocks. On both counts, he accepted the tax authority's judgment while maintaining there was no intent to conceal income or evade taxes. He explicitly denied that his case involved any form of income splitting or asset concealment, stating the situation arose solely from "carelessness in the process of managing personal assets."
Crucially, Ruler also confirmed he would cooperate fully with the LCK's review, signaling a markedly different posture than the tone-deaf soloqueue stream that had inflamed public opinion days earlier.
Public Reaction and a Poorly-Timed Stream
The controversy might have been contained had it not been for what many fans perceived as a tone-deaf response from the player himself. On March 30th — just days after the documents became public — Ruler went live on personal broadcast to play soloqueue, apparently without addressing the situation. The move inflamed public opinion significantly, with many viewing it as dismissive of legitimate concerns.
LCK Investigation and Potential Consequences
As of March 31th, the LCK confirmed to RFT.GG it"has been made aware of this situation, and has initiated a review in line with their internal investigative processes".
The stakes are high. The LCK rulebook explicitly covers situations where a participant "faces suspicion of violating tax law or the Punishment of Tax Evaders Act, including but not limited to cases where an investigation by tax authorities is ongoing." Should Ruler be found in violation of this provision, he could face:
A fine of up to 100 million KRW (approximately €57,000), and/or
Suspension up to and including a permanent ban from LCK and LCK CL participation
Photo Credit: LCK
The central legal and regulatory question is whether the NTS's tax reassessment and penalty — a formal act of administrative taxation — constitutes a "tax law violation" sufficient to trigger the LCK's disciplinary framework.
An Already Fragile Context
This controversy comes at an already difficult moment for Ruler's reputation. In January 2026, he was fined 800,000 KRW (approximately €460) as part of the LCK's first disciplinary round of the year for verbal abuse — notably not his first offense of that nature, having already been flagged for similar behaviour in March 2025.
What It Means for Gen.G
Should a suspension be handed down in the middle of the LCK season opener — with Gen.G due to play on 3 April, the timing could hardly be worse for Gen.G. Ruler is a cornerstone of the team's roster, and losing him even temporarily would force significant structural adjustments heading into a season with championship aspirations.
For now, all eyes remain on the LCK's decision — one that could set a significant precedent for how the league handles financial and legal conduct off the Rift.
This article will be updated as the LCK releases further statements regarding the investigation.
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