The
League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) released some very interesting viewership figures, covering both domestic and international audiences. Overall,
the Average Minute Audience grew by 42% between 2024 and 2025, reflecting a renewed interest in the world’s biggest league.
LCK 2025 Audience Grew by 42% in comparison with 2024. Source: LCK.
The LCK’s key numbers highlight a general surge in the league’s viewership following its format overhaul in 2025. While all Riot Games circuits transitioned to a three-split system,
the LCK opted for a different structure — introducing a winter kick-off tournament, the
LCK Cup, which did not count toward the official season. The league also decided to crown only one champion across the entire year, with a single regular season running throughout.
Global increases for the LCK
In the charts above, we can see the key figures showing the evolution of the South Korean league’s viewership in 2025 compared to 2024. Overall, the average minute audience rose from 439K to over 620K — a 42% increase. Domestically, the growth reached 31%, with numbers climbing from 175K to 230K.
It’s on the international stage that the league truly exploded — mostly thanks to its level of play. The last six Worlds finals have all featured at least one Korean team, with five of the last six champions coming from South Korea. Add to that the fierce competition within the league itself — T1, Gen.G, and Hanwha Life Esports constantly battling for international qualification spots — and it’s easy to see why global interest has surged.
Meanwhile, other regions haven’t shown the same improvement; Europe has stagnated, and the LPL has gradually lost its appeal. Statistically, the LCK’s foreign average minute audience has risen by nearly 50%, climbing from 264K to 394K, with 43% of that viewership coming from China, 23% from the English broadcast, and 20% from Vietnam.
Header Photo Credit: LCK/Riot Games
