Commemorative stamps featuring Lee Sang-hyeok, the League of Legends star known as Faker, and his championship record sold more than 80% of their total supply within hours of going on sale, with stamp albums at 87.5% and expected to sell out early.
As of 1 p.m. on the 23rd, 112,000 of the 140,000 stamp sheets issued had been sold, Korea Post said, leaving 28,000 sheets. The figure represents 80% of the total issue.
Of the 40,000 commemorative stamp albums issued, 35,000 were sold, a rate of 87.5%, leaving 5,000. Korea Post said the remaining stamps and albums are likely to sell out soon given the current pace of sales.
It is the first time a single subject has been issued across two different stamp sheets. Each sheet consists of 10 individual stamps. The first sheet, themed "The Beginning of a Legend," covers his career from his championship win in his debut year through 2016. The second sheet, themed "A Myth Beyond Legend," captures his major tournament victories from 2023 to 2025.
Commemorative stamps are issued to mark historically significant figures, events and milestones, to promote national projects or to foster public sentiment. This is also the first time an individual athlete, rather than a former president, has been the sole subject of a commemorative stamp. Stamps have previously featured multiple national team athletes together, but never a single player alone.
Faker is an esports star whose following extends well beyond Korea. In the 2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, which surveyed people in 30 countries and regions who had experienced Korean cultural content, Faker ranked among the responses to a question on the most influential Hallyu star, based on 2025 data.
At a presentation ceremony for the stamps on the 10th, Faker said, "When I first started out as an esports player, I never dreamed that my face would appear on a stamp." He added, "Receiving congratulations from so many people, I feel grateful and also a strong sense of responsibility."
Park In-hwan, head of Korea Post, said, "I hope these commemorative stamp goods will both honor Faker's achievements and give younger generations a chance to experience the appeal and culture of stamps in a new way."