LoL pro Peanut leaving for military service after Worlds 2025

South Korean League of Legends pro Han “Peanut” Wang-ho reveals plans to enlist in the military to fulfill his compulsory service requirement after competing at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship.

Peanut is one of the most popular and skilled junglers in all of League of Legends. He debuted as a pro more than a decade ago in 2015, and has played for several top teams since including ROX Tigers and Gen.G. He’s currently on the active roster of Hanwha Life Esports, one of the top-ranked pro teams both in Korea and across the world. Peanut is famous for his aggressive playing style and has competed in multiple World Championship events over the years, but has thus far failed to win it all.

The player will soon appear in World 2025, and it may be his last shot at the biggest prize in League of Legends as he has revealed that he’ll next be headed for the Korean military.

Peanut leaves pro League of Legends for mandatory military service

Military service is mandatory in South Korea and Peanut has announced he will enlist after Worlds 2025, though the player hasn’t confirmed whether he will return to pro League of Legends play after completing his required service. 

Some South Korean pro players, including famous mid-laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, have been fortunate enough to secure a championship victory at the Asian Games in order to earn exemptions from military services. But for most pros, including Peanut, it’s only a matter of time before they must enter the service for a required two-year period.

LCK on X

Peanut has now confirmed that Worlds 2025 will be his last tournament before he departs from the competitive scene. While it’s largely believed by fans that Peanut’s retirement may only be temporary, the player hasn’t yet confirmed that he would return to pro player after fulfilling his obligations.

The South Korean jungler is a fan-favorite player known for his lighthearted attitude and in-game aggression. He has had a career filled with multiple conquests in the LCK, the most competitive domestic tournament in League of Legends. He remains near the top of his game today, helping Hanwha Life Esports to an international trophy at First Stand earlier in the year. His career has also been longer than that of most professional LoL players.

Peanut’s departure marks something of an end of an era, but it remains possible that Peanut could later return as many fans hope. The player will still be under 30 by the time he finishes his service and may be able to compete again if he remains sufficiently motivated.

That being said, Peanut has used the phrase “last dance” to describe his upcoming run at Worlds, leading fans to speculate that he may be hinting at a more permanent retirement from competitive play despite their hopes for a comeback.

Feature image credits: Peanut on X