Who Are Hype & Way, the Korean Duo Knocking on the LEC's Door?

Announced as the biggest ERL transfer of last offseason, MISA Esports' Korean bot lane dominated the TCL Winter Split and are now set to take on the EMEA Masters Winter. Where do they come from, and are they truly the next absolute threat in European tier two — to the point of being LEC-ready?

Over the years, long before the league became an ERL in early 2023, the TCL has always had a reputation as a landing spot for Korean players. Whether young talents unable to secure a place in the Korean elite or experienced players seeking new horizons, the Turkish ERL has seen its fair share of Korean imports.

A duo destined for the top?

But heading into 2026, the arrival of two names that many expected to land directly in the LEC rather than go through ERLs generated plenty of buzz: Byeon "Hype" Jeong-hyeon & Han "Way" Gil.

Why so much hype? First, because the duo know each other inside out, having spent nearly two years together sharing the bot lane of KT Challengers in 2023 and 2024. More importantly, that team became the terror of the LCK CL in 2024, winning both splits as well as the ASCI — Asia's equivalent of EMEA Masters — dropping just a single game across 14 played.

In short, Hype & Way formed the bot lane of what was by far the most promising team in the global academy system in 2024. Both players eventually got their shot, this time separately, in the world's greatest league where the best players on the planet compete: the LCK.