The Piltover Post

With the departure of Han “Peanut” Wang-ho for his mandatory military service, fans were left wondering about his future for when he returns home. Many players have left for military service and did not end up returning to the scene, so it’s natural that people feel this is the last they see of Peanut. However, Kim “Olleh” Joo-Sung defied expectations and returned for the 2024 season. With his military service completed, Olleh found himself hungering for the stage again and returned to Immortals Progressive after parting ways in 2017. Unfortunately for him, the league was cut down to eight teams with Immortals and NRG as the sacrificial lambs. With the restrictions, and the impact of IMT’s record weighing on him, he was unable to find a team for the 2025 season. I sat down with Olleh and he reflected on his past year and what he hopes for the future.

Q: You are one of two people who left competitive League of Legends to serve in your country’s military and returned to tier 1 afterwards. FORG1VEN in the LEC was the other, and he had a disappointing comeback before he disappeared from the scene. Did you feel a certain amount of pressure to be in the same form you were in before you left?

A: ​Rather than feeling pressure, I think it was more about the desire to perform better and the true meaning of freedom. In the military, you have to follow orders even if you don’t want to. But competitive League of Legends is something I genuinely want to do. Coming out from under that strict discipline of the military, the sheer desire to play and excel was much stronger. It was a powerful contrast between the strict environment I had just left and the passion I have for a game I choose to play.

Q: I have a lot of military friends here in the United States, and they found adjusting to civilian life a lot different. Granted, their contracts are a lot longer than 18 months. Did you struggle with returning to “normal life”?

A: ​It wasn’t difficult at all; in fact, I loved it. It was truly liberating. There was no struggle because I could sleep whenever I wanted, do whatever I wanted, and eat whatever I felt like eating. The transition was incredibly smooth for me.

Q: With Riot cutting the league down, including Immortals in the casualties, you weren’t able to secure a team in NA. Were you looking to pursue any other regions?

A: ​Before playing in the U.S., I had experience playing in both Brazil and Taiwan. Because of that, I was willing to go to any league, viewing it as another new life experience and a new competitive challenge. I had the mindset that I would adapt to any new environment.

Q: Without the grind of being in the tier one scene, how have you been spending your time this past year apart from playing Korean solo queue?

A: ​I traveled, and a friend suggested I try playing poker after the Summer Split, so I learned the game from scratch, not knowing any of the hand rankings. I also participated in a Korean streamer tournament as an invited coach. I used to spend all my time sitting in front of a monitor, but now that I’m actually meeting people, I feel like I’m learning and gaining insight into human nature, which is a big change from when I was only interested in the game.

Q: Do you ever see yourself returning to competitive League of Legends, whether as a player or in a support staff role, such as a coach or analyst?

A: ​I would return if a good opportunity came along. I felt very disheartened during my time with Immortals. Even though I worked hard after my military return, the team’s performance was poor, and the team was removed from the league after just one year despite having a two-year contract. That made the contract feel meaningless. It was a moment where I truly understood the harsh business realities of professional esports.

Q: What advice do you have for players who must complete their mandatory service and are considering a return to professional play after?

A: ​Ultimately, it all comes down to your own will. While you will have almost no time to play the game directly while serving, if you have a passion for League of Legends, I think it’s best to keep the idea of a return alive by watching LoL tournaments in your spare time after duty or by playing the game occasionally during your leave. Commitment is key.