LEC Faces Uncertainty as GIANTX Star Noah Hints at Forced Exit from Europe
A quiet but serious question is hanging over the LEC tonight and it has nothing to do with drafts or standings. It’s about whether one of the league’s most promising bot laners will even be allowed to stay.
GIANTX ADC Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek has spoken openly about the possibility that his time in the LEC could be coming to an end, not because of performance, but because of South Korea’s mandatory military service laws. And the implications reach far beyond one player or one team.
GIANTX are currently tied near the top of the LEC table and when they look at their best, it often starts in the bot lane. Noah and his support Jun have built clear chemistry, strong laning and trust that only comes from time together. But that duo now appears unlikely to stay intact next season.
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The issue is simple and unavoidable. Under South Korean law, men who have not completed military service face restrictions on overseas travel once they reach a certain age. Noah is approaching that threshold. If he returns to Korea, there is a real chance he may not be permitted to leave again to continue playing in Europe.
Noah has made it clear this is not about motivation or ambition. In fact, he says the opposite. He wants to stay in the LEC. He says Europe has shaped him as a player and as a person. He feels comfortable in the league, comfortable in the environment and believes it suits him better than returning to the LCK, which he describes as a very different world.
That honesty matters. Because this story is not just about Noah. It highlights a growing challenge for global esports. Regional leagues like the LEC rely on international talent, but national laws, visas and service requirements can abruptly change careers. Teams invest years into building rosters, synergy and fan connections, only to lose players for reasons that have nothing to do with the game.
For GIANTX, this creates uncertainty at a critical moment. For the LEC, it raises questions about how many future stars could face similar barriers. And for fans, it’s a reminder that behind every highlight reel is a player navigating real-world pressure, discipline, health and life-changing decisions.
Noah says this could be his last year and his goal is simple. Win the LEC at least once. Prove what he knows he can be. Whether circumstances allow him to return after that remains unclear.
This is a story still unfolding and its outcome could reshape more than one roster. Stay with us as we continue to follow how global esports careers collide with real-world limits and what it means for the future of the LEC.
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