On the 14th, Jung Chung-rae, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, stirred controversy at the 'G-STAR 2025' event in Busan by name-dropping Ma Jae-yoon, the former pro-gamer permanently expelled for his role in a match-fixing scandal.

During the 'Field Meeting for the Future Strategy of K-Games' held at BEXCO, Busan, Jung promised that his party would work to dismantle legal and institutional barriers facing the industry. He reminded the room that he was the original architect of the Game Industry Act twenty years ago, even boasting about his past efforts in founding a National Assembly group for e-sports and hosting the first-ever legislative StarCraft tournament. He reminisced about his time playing the game with legends like Seo Ji-soo, Lee Yoon-yeol, and Lim Yo-hwan, clearly eager to show off his gaming credentials.

The trouble began when he touched upon the post-retirement struggles of pro-gamers. Jung remarked, "I couldn't help but think of world-famous players like Lim Yo-hwan, Lee Yoon-yeol, Hong Jin-ho, Ma Jae-yoon, and Park Sung-jun. I am well aware of the reality that these players have failed to secure stable positions within the system."

The man in question, Ma Jae-yoon, was once a titan of StarCraft, known for toppling giants like Lee Yoon-yeol. That was, of course, until 2010, when he was convicted of match-fixing and illegal betting, handed a suspended sentence, and subsequently given a lifetime ban by KeSPA. The scandal remains a dark chapter that dealt a catastrophic blow to the StarCraft Proleague.

StarCraft fans did not take this lightly. Netizens on the DC Inside StarCraft Gallery issued a formal statement on the 15th, demanding an official apology. They slammed Jung's comments as "a deeply inappropriate act that insults the history of e-sports and trivializes the pain of fans by grouping a man who left an indelible scar on the scene with legitimate legends."

After the closed-door session, Jung seemed to notice the backlash, briefly acknowledging that "some of the players I mentioned were involved in unfortunate incidents." However, fans are demanding a public reflection on the lasting damage match-fixing caused to the scene. Critics also pointed out that his examples were poorly chosen: while he claimed they couldn't find their footing, figures like Lim Yo-hwan and Hong Jin-ho have found successful careers in broadcasting and professional poker, while Lee Yoon-yeol has transitioned into game development.

Jung concluded by stating that his party intends to "transform the negative perceptions of the game industry into positive ones, fostering its contribution to national economic growth," adding that specific industry grievances would be reviewed by Kim Sung-hoe, the chairman of the Special Committee on the Game Industry.