LCK Teams Reportedly Split Over Salary Cap Propositions - T1 Oppose
Just as the LCK representatives assert their dominance on the world stage, the teams are reported to be split over a potential salary cap proposition, with the most prominent sides looking to avoid the limitations.
Three of the final four of the World Championships 2021 teams are boasted by the LCK, as T1, DAMWON KIA, and Gen.G feature in all-Eastern semi-finals, highlighting the disparity between Korean League of Legends and the rest of the world.
However, as the trifecta look to prepare for their matches in a hope of an all-LCK final, the entire league has been debating implementing a salary cap, according to reports from Upcomer. The salary cap would likely affect the top-tier teams in the region, limiting how much they can spend on player wages throughout the year.
Previously, Win reported that the LCK's Eastern rivals in the LPL implemented a salary cap, limiting teams to 10 million Chinese yuan (approximately £1.13million) per year. Inven Global also found that in 2018, the average salary for an LCK player was around 170million Korean Won (approximately £105,000), although salaries for the lower-seeded teams fluctuated as low as £12,300. The findings saw 63.7% of the LCK players earned less than £62,300, meaning the elite 36.3% would have had to have been earning an average of approximately £178,000 - just shy of fifteen times the figures of those at the lower end of the spectrum.
The report from Upcomer didn't specify an exact figure for the proposed salary cap in the LCK, although it appears that the more accomplished sides are against the idea, with T1 being the "strongest opposing voice."
T1 themselves has eleven players on their active squad, including two players per position and an extra Jungler. Their squad also contains the most accomplished player in history with Lee "Faker" Sang-Hyeok - who will likely be one of the top earners in the league.
Should a salary cap, similar to the LPL's, be implemented, the likes of Faker could be forced to take a pay cut, or see members of their roster be removed to fund his position in the team that has been set in stone since 2013.
T1 and Faker could lift their fourth World Championships this November, although reigning champions DAMWON KIA stand in their way.