Faker makes his K-pop debut as T1 STARS' new single releases next week in Spotify collab

Any casual observer of the Korean League of Legends pro scene has probably made the connection between the level of superstardom that LCK players receive and Korea’s biggest (and greatest?) export, K-pop. Players like Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok and Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon and their teammates receive treatment similar to BTS or Blackpink, despite the difference in their talents.

But T1 will blur the lines between K-pop and esports next week as they release their first single, with Faker and co debuting under the T1 STARS group in a brand new marketing stunt.

Forget championship gold, T1’s LoL team eye platinum records with new musical group

Unveiled on Monday this week (Aug. 3) Faker, Doran, Oner, Peyz, and Keria will showcase their skills as part of T1’s new musical group, with the single debuting next week on Aug. 10. The release schedule includes a behind-the-scenes video, official playlist reveal, and other extra features.

This culminates in a ‘live’ performance at T1’s Home Ground event later this month. However, for those hoping to hear the dulcet tones of Faker, Oner, and Doran, prepared to be disappointed: Actual vocals for the upcoming single will be provided by DK and Seungkwan from K-Pop group Seventeen as part of their sub-unit DxS.

T1’s role will be largely to aura farm in the music video, something we’re confident Faker will be able to manage easily. The marketing campaign will push T1's players under the banner of the T1 STARS, turning esports team to boy-band.

The musical transformation is part of a larger collaboration between T1 and Spotify, and a promotion for the T1 Home Ground event. T1 and Spotify's partnership was announced last year.

This kind of large scale sponsor activity is perhaps another example of the demanding commercial schedule T1’s LoL team have made headlines for in recent weeks.

T1 Home Ground is a League of Legends fan event designed to bring a larger audience than usual to LCK games. The second such event of the year, this upcoming Home Ground is set to take place between Aug. 14–16, 2026, at the KSPO DOME in Seoul. The event has a "Reach for the Stars" event, with the T1 STARS taking center stage.

The event is potentially a great showcase for T1, who only recently regained the top of the LCK table after several months playing second fiddle to other tier one teams such as KT Rolster and Hanwha Life Esports.