While the LCK transfer market is in full swing and transfer announcements are pouring in daily, the
Nongshim RedForce (NS) have just revealed the four players missing from their roster in one go. While
Lee "Fisher" Jeong-tae had already re-signed with the team until 2026 back in August, Hwang "
Kingen" Seong-hoon and Son "
Lehends" Si-woo are now joining the club, and Jung "
Jiwoo" Ji-woo and Lee "
Sylvie" Seung-bok have extended their contracts, all through to 2026. To supervise them, NS have signed coach Kim "
Crazy" Jae-hee.
Following the roster announcements from the top teams in the league, it’s only natural to see the finalization of Nongshim’s roster, a team more accustomed to mid-table finishes in the LCK. However, with the arrival of Kingen and Lehends, coming from Dplus KIA (DK) and Gen.G respectively, the team has acquired experienced players who are no strangers to victory. They will aim to improve their double 8th-place finishes from the 2024 season and perhaps even contend for a spot in the playoffs for the first time since Summer 2021.
Enough changes to change fate?
The team, often labeled "unambitious" compared to its league rivals, seems to have stood out this time by making two high-profile signings. Indeed, they struck gold by signing Kingen, who is coming off a mixed year at DK, where he was sacrificed by his team as one of their perceived weak points, but still carries with him his Worlds title from 2022 with DRX. Surprisingly, Lehends faced a similar fate at Gen.G, being criticized for his underwhelming performance during the knockout stages of Worlds 2024, despite an otherwise stellar year where he could arguably be considered the best support in the league.
Thus, the two players arrive with both the experience of victory and a hunger for redemption. And what better way to seek it than by joining a team starting from the bottom, aiming to climb to uncharted heights? They’ll be surrounded by three players who already played with the roster this year: Sylvie, entering his third consecutive year with the club, Fisher, who joined mid-season, and Jiwoo, who became the team’s primary ADC just this year.
They will thus be able to benefit from the experience and leadership of their new teammates to climb higher in the LCK standings. In addition to the new players, they will also be able to rely on a new coach, who has just recently transitioned into the role. Indeed, Crazy was still playing as a toplaner in the TCL back in 2022.
NS RedForce's 2025 roster:
Top: Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon
Jungle: Lee "Sylvie" Seung-bok
Mid: Lee "Fisher" Jeong-tae
ADC: Jung "Jiwoo" Ji-woo
Support: Son "Lehends" Si-woo
For more roster changes, don't forget to check out our Transfers Hub. Header Photo Credit: LCK/Riot Games/NongShim RedForce/Sheep Esports
