Park So-yeon breaks through esports glass ceiling, first woman to play for South Korea

Park So-yeon will represent her country in survival horror game Identity V at Asian Games in Japan next month

Park So-yeon is set to become the first woman to represent South Korea’s national team in esports and wants to pave the way for more in the male-dominated world of competitive gaming.

South Korea is an esports powerhouse and Park has been chosen to compete in survival horror game Identity V at the Asian Games in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.

The 23-year-old Park, the only woman in South Korea’s team of 36 esports competitors heading to Japan, said she wanted to “go all out and have no regrets”.

“Since I am the first I feel a great responsibility to pave the way for other women athletes who love playing games as much as I do,” said Park, who majored in taekwondo in college.

South Korea’s formidable team will be spearheaded by superstar gamer Lee Sang-hyeok.

Better known as Faker, he was part of the South Korea team that won gold in League of Legends at the 2023 Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou.