YoungJae steps away from competitive League of Legends

South Korean jungler Ko "YoungJae" Yeong-jae has announced that he is stepping away from competitive League of Legends at 23, after eight years as a professional player. His most recent team was Brazilian organisation LOUD, which he joined ahead of the 2026 season.

During his time in Brazil, YoungJae helped LOUD win the CBLOL Cup 2026, securing the team a place at First Stand. However, LOUD later struggled to reproduce the same level of performance, and the jungler admitted that he had not fully met the expectations placed on him as an import.

In a long farewell message, YoungJae explained that he had initially been worried about moving to the other side of the world and adapting to life in Brazil. Those concerns quickly faded thanks to the welcome he received from local fans, teammates and staff. Despite a difficult end to his time with the team, he said he would leave with many positive memories.

For now, YoungJae says he wants to live a calmer life and is not thinking about his next professional move. He has not clearly stated that his departure from competition is permanent, leaving the door open to a possible return in the future. He nevertheless plans to remain connected with fans through livestreaming.