Jaehyuk: DK Challengers toplaner’s inspiring wheelchair story goes viral

At the LCK Challengers League arena, one player stands out. Not for his flashy in-game plays, but for the wheelchair he uses on stage. Some wondered why he used one, assuming it was due to a temporary injury. But last year, during a team education session, the reason quietly became known: Dplus KIA Challengers’ toplaner Kwon "Jaehyuk" Jae-hyuk has used a wheelchair since the age of five, following an accident that caused lower-body paralysis.

Until recently, only a handful of fans and staff knew about his condition. That changed when DK’s main sponsor, Kia, released a YouTube advertisement in February that featured his story. The clip quickly went viral.

The video, which also starred Jeon "" Si-woo and DK CL head coach Kim "Woong" Sun-woong, surpassed one million views and received overwhelmingly positive reactions. Comments described it as “a warm, human story” and “truly moving.” Jaehyuk joined DK’s third roster (DK Youth) in 2024 and earned a promotion to the organization’s Challengers team ahead of the 2025 season.

“I started playing games because of my father,” Jaehyuk recalled. “Then I watched my older brother play League of Legends and started climbing ranks myself. Later, my coach encouraged me to join the team. When my story about being paralyzed from the waist down came up during the education session, I wasn’t embarrassed. I was actually thankful that people noticed. It felt good.”

In an article published on Pressian.com, Jaehyuk's mother, Um Nam-mi, explains she played a pivotal role in nurturing his talents despite his paralysis. Watching him game post-accident, she thought, "With a computer, he can go anywhere and relieve stress," choosing not to force studies but let him pursue joys like LoL. Her support shone as Jaehyuk outpaced his brother in the academy, leading her to realize "he's no ordinary kid" when he appeared on broadcasts, fueling his pro path with unwavering belief.

While the advertisement brought attention to his disability, he said he didn’t feel pressured by it. Instead, he was “grateful people paid attention” and appreciated the support.

Jaehyuk has been spotted on TesterHoon YouTube at 15 in 2022 Challenger. Two years later, coach Woong recruited him to DK Youth in 2024, winning LCK AS Academy Spring, then Challengers for 2025. "If talents like Jaehyuk don't try pro, who will? We train him exactly like others, no special treatment," Woong said, praising his unmatched practice volume. “He is a promising player who could become the team’s shield thanks to his indomitable will,” adding that he is “improving in passion, communication, and drive.”

Jaehyuk agreed: “I’ve been working hard to improve my communication skills.” When asked what “desperation” means to him, he replied, “It’s about working hard, not giving up, and not falling behind others.”

His motivation as a professional gamer is simple: “Victory.” To aspiring players chasing promotion to the second tier, he offered advice: “The most important thing is to work hard. When you watch good players’ videos, ask questions and learn from them. That’s what makes the difference.”

Jaehyuk’s role model is star toplaner, Kim "" Gi-in. “His understanding of the game and his individual power level are on another level,” he explained. Looking ahead, he is not afraid to aim high: “I want to perform well this year. My goal is to win the regular season.” Though he joked that “getting up at 8 a.m. is impossible because I practice until dawn,” he tries to wake up around noon.

Asked about his strengths as a player, Jaehyuk replied, “I like studying unusual laning matchups and applying them in games.” His personal goal is clear: “I want to rank among the top three toplaners. During the regular season, I want to make it to the Play-In stage and meet fans while achieving great results,” he said with a smile.

As a conclusion, the young toplaner reaffirmed his determination. “I’ll work hard so I don’t fall behind in competition,” he said firmly. “Winning Worlds is my number one goal. And I want to become a player who stays in people’s memories.”