Han “Peanut” Wang-ho is stepping away from competitive League of Legends to begin his mandatory military service in South Korea.
Peanut hasn’t officially retired. He’s pausing his playing career to fulfill the conscription requirement that nearly every South Korean man must complete.
Peanut first blew up with the ROX Tigers back in 2016, alongside Smeb, Kuro, PraY, and GorillA. That roster won LCK Summer and pushed SK Telecom T1 to five games in what many still call the best Worlds semifinal ever played.
He then joined SKT itself, lifted the 2017 MSI trophy with Faker, and reached the Worlds final that same year. Stints with Longzhu/Kingzone, LGD, and Nongshim RedForce followed, before a strong veteran run at Gen.G and his most recent stop with Hanwha Life Esports.
Across nearly a decade, Peanut stayed near the top of the role. Aggressive early-game pathing made his name. Smart shot-calling and macro kept him relevant long after most junglers his age had moved on.
Why he has to go now
South Korea requires almost all able-bodied male citizens to serve. Esports pros can sometimes delay enlistment through overseas play or education, but only certain achievements unlock real exemptions. Gold medals at the Olympics or Asian Games are the main path.
That’s why Faker and the rest of South Korea’s League of Legends squad from the Hangzhou Asian Games received an alternative service benefit. Peanut wasn’t on that roster, so the standard rules apply.
Service length depends on assignment. Active-duty army is usually around 18 months, while other roles can run longer. HLE hasn’t publicly confirmed Peanut’s exact assignment or return window.
What comes after the uniform
Whether Peanut returns to pro play is an open question. League of Legends moves fast, and long breaks have ended more comebacks than they’ve launched. Players like FORG1VEN and Trick struggled after their returns, though Olleh did manage to get back in, and Deft is reportedly grinding solo queue with a comeback in mind.
Even if a pro return isn’t in the cards, Peanut’s game knowledge could easily land him in a coaching, analyst, casting, or streaming role once his service ends.
