South Korean League of Legends pro Lee “Scout” Ye-chan has been ordered by a Chinese court to pay over $4.5m (33.5 million RMB) to his former team EDward Gaming (EDG) for breach of contract. The ruling ends a lengthy legal battle that began when Scout left EDG to join rival LPL team LNG Esports after the 2022 season.
The court determined that Scout was still under a valid contract with EDG when he signed with LNG Esports. According to the ruling, Scout and his management company unilaterally terminated his agreement with the organization, causing significant damage to the team that had built much of their strategy around the star midlaner.
The massive $4.5m payment includes the return of contract signing fees and benefits previously paid by EDG to Scout, damages for breach of contract, repayment of portions of his salary, plus interest and legal fees related to the proceedings. This represents several years’ worth of salary even for elite players in the LPL, which is known as one of the highest-paying regions in professional League of Legends.
Scout’s relationship with EDG spans back to 2016 when he joined the Chinese organization after being a trainee at SKT T1 in South Korea. Often called “Faker’s prodigy,” Scout became a cornerstone of EDG’s success, helping them capture the 2021 World Championship in a stunning upset over DWG KIA.
Reports show this wasn’t the first contract dispute between Scout and EDG. Rumors of conflicts dated back to late 2021, when Scout allegedly talked with other organizations while under contract. EDG reportedly looked past a possible breach involving a Korean team after the 2021 season, but things really got heated after his move to LNG in 2022.
During the legal battle, Scout reportedly faced travel restrictions from Chinese authorities, requiring him to post a bond to participate in international tournaments. According to several sources, his fellow pro players, including teammates and rivals, helped Scout financially to meet these obligations so he could compete at important events like Worlds.
