The tax evasion controversy surrounding Gen.G’s League of Legends pro 'Ruler' Park Jae-hyuk has sparked rumors of a knock-on effect for other pro gamers serving as social service agents. But is there any truth to these claims?

The speculation began among 'Eternal Return' pro gamers. On the 11th, Moon Jun-ho, a former GC Busan player known as 'Seogeonam', suddenly announced his retirement. Having served as a social service agent since March, he had sought permission for concurrent employment to compete in the upcoming league, but the request was denied. He hinted at the reason, stating, "An art agent from the 'Chinese LoL' side caused a big incident," clearly referencing the ongoing situation with Ruler.

Simultaneously, other Eternal Return pros serving as social service agents were also notified that concurrent employment would be blocked. 'G-Walk' Gwak Jeong-won of Yangju Wales and 'Zet' Bae Ho-young of Chungnam CNJ Esports both reported the news. Chungnam CNJ Esports stated, "Due to recent social issues, although we initially received approval from the agency and local government where Bae Ho-young serves, the regional Military Manpower Administration ultimately rejected the request upon review."

So, is this 'social issue' really tied to the Ruler tax evasion controversy? In a call with Gamemeca, the Military Manpower Administration denied it. A spokesperson stated, "The case is completely unrelated to Park Jae-hyuk. Concurrent employment for pro athletes, celebrities, doctors, and lawyers is prohibited in principle, and there has been no policy change. We have not issued any official directives to regional offices demanding stricter management."

They added that players who received permission last year were effectively operating in a grey area. "Concurrent employment is only permitted for livelihood support or national events like the Olympics. Permissions granted last year were technically against the rules, and some local governments have simply been correcting their lack of understanding regarding the regulations." In short, the Military Manpower Administration maintains that pro gaming as a concurrent job is off the table, regardless of recent headlines.

Under the regulations, 'concurrent employment' refers to any role taken by an agent—outside of their official duties—that involves profit-seeking, including unpaid public service or activities involving professional responsibilities. Article 28 strictly limits permissions to cases involving livelihood, basic social security recipients, public service activities, or situations deemed necessary by the head of the agency.

Specifically, Article 28, Section 3 allows for the restriction of pro athletes. Thus, the Military Manpower Administration’s stance that 'general e-sports league participation is not a valid reason' holds water legally. There remains a sliver of ambiguity regarding 'unavoidable circumstances' recognized by agency heads, but it is hardly a guarantee.

The Military Manpower Administration acted within its rights, but the response from KeSPA left much to be desired. A Korean e-sports league, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and managed by KeSPA, kicks off on the 18th. One would think there was room for negotiation between the authorities and the association.

However, the Military Manpower Administration noted they had received no formal request for cooperation, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated they were still in the fact-finding stage regarding Eternal Return players. It appears KeSPA left the burden of permission entirely on the players, sending only generic requests to local governments. Given the scale of these leagues and tournaments, a more proactive stance and inter-ministerial cooperation were clearly required.

Some still believe the 'social issue' narrative isn't entirely baseless. While Ruler’s situation brought eyes to the sector, others point to the case of 'WINNER' member Song Min-ho, who was indicted without detention last December for truancy while serving as a social service agent. It is possible that heightened scrutiny on agent misconduct has led local agencies to apply regulations with much greater, perhaps excessive, rigor. Of course, this remains in the realm of speculation.

On the morning of the 16th, Yangju Wales announced that 'G-Walk' Gwak Jeong-won was permitted to participate in the 2026 Asian e-sports tournament, a national team event co-hosted by five East Asian nations. As it qualifies as a 'national event,' participation was granted. Yet, silence remains on the domestic league front. Players deserve a consistent, transparent, and fair system, not one defined by arbitrary decisions. It is high time the authorities and associations communicate clearly to provide a standard that doesn't leave players hanging in the balance.