Sources: Pungyeon set to join CTBC Flying Oyster

Midlaner Lee “Pungyeon” Jong-hyuk is set to join CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) in the LCP for the 2026 season, sources have confirmed to Sheep Esports. The 21-year-old will replace Tsai “HongQ” Ming-Hong, who is heading to JD Gaming in the LPL alongside teammate Yu “JunJia” Chun-Chia.

The move had been rumored on forums and privately hinted at by Pungyeon himself, but has now been confirmed by sources close to the situation.

With HongQ’s contract expiring at the end of the year, CFO initially entered the offseason hoping to re-sign their star midlaner. However, HongQ and his agent ultimately opted for a lucrative offer from the LPL, prompting CFO to explore alternative options quickly. Among the midlaners considered were Han “Pout” In-woong (Saigon Dino), Lee “M G” Ji-hoon (Los Grandes), Jo “Roamer” Woo-jin (paiN Gaming), and Tseng “JimieN” Hao-Chun (Chiefs Esports Club).

While 2025 marked the inaugural year of the LCP, CTBC Flying Oyster made history for the Asia-Pacific region. The team became the first from the region since 2015 to qualify for the World Championship knockout stage. CFO also won all three inaugural LCP splits and qualified for every international event of the year, finishing Top 4 at First Stand, Top 6 at MSI, and Top 8 at Worlds.

This unprecedented success will undoubtedly go down in the region’s League of Legends history books, but it has also come at a cost. Several players from the roster have drawn significant international interest. In the midlane, HongQ, just 18 years old, attracted attention from multiple Tier 1 teams in both the LPL and LCS. Despite an offer to remain with CFO, he ultimately chose to join JD Gaming.

To fill the void in the midlane, CFO have opted for a player who has spent his entire career in Korea. After progressing through the amateur and academy circuits, Pungyeon joined DN Freecs for the 2025 season. While his time in the LCK was limited—ending with a last-place finish in Rounds 1–2—he found considerably more success in DN Freecs Challengers.

Pungyeon qualified for the Asia Masters 2025 Finals, where DN Freecs finished third in a highly competitive field featuring top Tier 2 teams from across Asia, including China. Although he did not secure any series MVP awards, his performances remained consistent throughout the tournament.

In solo queue, Pungyeon has recently peaked at over 2000 LP, favoring champions such as Orianna, Azir, and Taliyah, all with positive win rates. Whether he can help CFO remain at the top in 2026 remains to be seen, but on paper, the organization has assembled a roster with strong individual skill and diverse backgrounds—once again positioning CFO among the favorites in the LCP.