Team Heretics have officially announced the arrival of Byeon "Hype" Jeong-hyeon as their new ADC, starting from the 2026 LEC Summer Split. The Korean carry replaces Yoon "Ice" Sang-hoon and reunites with his long-time botlane partner, support Han "Way" Gil — the duo who terrorised the LCK CL together at KT Challengers in 2023 and 2024 before linking up again at Misa Esports earlier this year.
The move was first reported by Sheep Esports back in March as part of a 70,000 dollars package deal with Misa Esports that also brought Way to the LEC for the Spring Split. Hype stayed on loan at Misa to finish the Spring on the TCL and EMEA Masters Winter circuit before officially joining Heretics for Summer.
I really hate imports. Importing players from LCK or LCK CL is not healthy for the region. Why are we doing this? Why not make an offer to (for example, but not specifically) Crownie or other EMEA adcs? Why pick up a korean? Look at NAVI, essentially a EMEA team + Parus (ignore SamD, he has been playing in EMEA for a long time, so I don't treat him as an import). They are doing so well! LR (although it featured many high caliber players) also did very well in Versus. EMEA has so much potential and we are wasting it importing Koreans who can't even speak english probably. You won't win LEC by importing a korean, you need to build and cultivate a team, that's the only way to win LEC.
Deal was made long time ago, its old MISA's botlane that was crushing everyone and did good even vs LEC teams, old MISA would go and win EMEA masters winter earlier if Heretics didn't steal Way and now Hype too. There is literally no better botlane to choose from in EU than them. Also Navi literally have Poby imported too what are you on about x) Parus trash player too. LR didn't qualify to playoffs, they did not do good, fake impression in bo1 roulette at the start of the year in new szn with cheese champs like caitlyn mundo. I think those Koreans are quick and easy way to get a stronger team and it for sure works as seen with KC for example, also many LCS teams like Lyon Sen etc all have KR players and play good, especially when those koreans are probably better than many other players available. But it's true that it's not healthy, if all LEC/LCS teams have 3 KR players, that's not fun to watch at all. To be fair, with how bad Heretics are, no imports will help them, 3 remaining players are horrible anyway and they will be top 9-10 anyway even if you put Guma+Keria there. But still, 'cultivating' a team being perma stuck at 0-9/1-8 is not fun. Also, those are not some tier 1 korean players, but mostly from LCKCL, that don't have any experience on highest levels of pro and could be potential superstars, how is that not cultivating a team?
I dislike poby for the same reason. And by "cultivating a team" i did not mean raising a player from ground up, any player, but a domestic player rather. I agree that Parus might not be the best support, but there are excellent players on Navi roster too that come from EU: Rhilech, Maynter (Rhilech might actually become best EU jungler in the coming years I think. His creativity when making plays and courage, his X factor is just unmatched) I just think that it's unhealthy for the region and competition, importing players, no matter if they are the best or whatever. Because if you're want to play in esports in the future, you need an insurance there is a clear path for you into a tier 1 team. If we stop pulling players from EMEA and resort to getting LCKCL players, this path becomes.. barely visible? And don't pretend the dream of esport gaming is not something MANY players are playing this game for, especially younger part of the community.