Hansan.
The company’s main industries include advanced IT and various electronics, making it a major corporation.
A name that, upon hearing, even people in South Korea and around the world would find hard not to know—truly a global enterprise.
“Are they really going to sponsor us?”
“More precisely, it’s Hansan Foods.”
“Foods?”
Kim Hanseong had heard of Hansan but was unfamiliar with Hansan Foods, so the idea was somewhat perplexing to him.
“Here—apparently, it’s a subsidiary. It looks like they’re a company that produces specialized food.”
“Specialized food? What exactly do they sell?”
“A condition called phenylketonuria; some people who can’t eat proteins properly. I heard they make low-protein foods.”
“Sounds like a kind of welfare initiative?”
“It seems that way. They also make food for other rare disease patients.”
Kim Hanseong looked over the materials handed to him by Seo Yieun.
Hansan Foods—though its name suggested a food company, it strongly carried the impression of a welfare foundation.
“Wow, this is surprising. It’s not like this business would make much money, right?”
“Hansan has a lot of foundations, after all. This could be one of them.”
“So then, why are they sponsoring us?”
“Still, it’s quite a hefty amount, isn’t it?”
“Definitely… It’s similar to what the big companies give to esports teams.”
But something didn’t sit right.
If Hansan itself had approached them, it might’ve made sense to attribute it to the chairman’s personal hobbies, but it was strange for the food division to suddenly sponsor esports.
“What’s so weird about it?”
“It’s just so random, you know.”
“Other teams have car insurance, traditional medicine clinics, even ophthalmology sponsors. Food companies don’t seem that strange, do they? Especially since it’s a subsidiary of an IT company.”
Listening to Seo Yieun’s words, Kim Hanseong began to see her point.
Other teams in the LCK have sponsors as diverse as traditional medicine clinics, eye clinics, insurance companies, and even karaoke sponsors—so why not a food company?
‘Come to think of it.’
On further reflection, there were food companies sponsoring esports teams too.
At events in the LoL Park, one team even gives out canned tuna as promotions. In comparison, a company like Hansan Foods with its charitable undertones could be an even better fit.
‘Did I leave a suit at the dorm?’
Kim Hanseong usually wore a uniform on match days instead of a suit, unlike other coaches. He searched his memory trying to remember where he might’ve left a suit he’d tailored in the past.
“Set up a meeting, and we’ll go ourselves, right?”
“No?”
“Huh?”
“They said they’ll come to us.”
“Who?”
“The CEO of Hansan Foods.”
Choi Eunhyuk.
An executive director of the Hansan Life Foundation and also serving as the president of Hansan Hospital.
Interestingly enough, he also doubled as the CEO of Hansan Foods.
‘How long since we’ve gone out together?’
Inside the luxury sedan speeding along the road, Choi Eunhyuk glanced at his younger sister sitting beside him.
After a long time, he had decided to go out with his sister.
“…”
Her rhythmic breathing indicated that Choi Eunseo, his sister, had fallen asleep.
‘I want to sponsor esports.’
He had always known that his younger sister watched esports, something he himself had recommended to her.
‘Probably vicarious satisfaction.’
Choi Eunhyuk, having undergone training as the successor, constantly felt a lack of free time, whereas his younger sister seemed to have an abundance of free hours. His idea was for her to play games as a pastime.
But for his sister, who’d spent much of her childhood in the hospital, esports had gradually become an essential part of her life.
“Mmm… Are we here?”
Apparently, her nap hadn’t been as deep as he thought, as Choi Eunseo, rubbing her sleepy eyes, stretched.
“No, we still have a little way to go.”
“…Brother, thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
As much as he wanted to respond with kindness, it seemed to Choi Eunhyuk that his family’s genes made it inevitable for him to respond with what others might perceive as a cold manner.
“For convincing Dad, even though I might’ve pressured you a bit.”
Despite that response, Choi Eunseo smiled while looking at her brother.
‘Anyway, it’s WWE.’
Though President Choi Kwangjin had acted upset, his reaction had amounted to little more than putting on a front.
Even if Hansan Foods was close to a social enterprise, it was, above all, one of Hansan’s subsidiaries.
In such a high-profile situation, there might be people who would think that Hansan’s random entry into the gaming market constituted some kind of strategy from the parent company, Hansan. As such, it was merely a pretense to reject it in light of public eyes.
“So, do you have a reason for wanting to become a sponsor?”
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t you do this earlier? You’ve liked esports since elementary school, right?”
Since her elementary school days spent in the hospital, Choi Eunseo had developed a passion for esports.
Had she simply desired this earlier, they could’ve already sponsored the league or even acquired a team.
That Choi Eunseo had suddenly proposed something like this left Choi Eunhyuk curious.
“I want to cheer for someone.”
“Someone?”
“You know, most esports fans don’t root for the teams but for the players, right?”
Unlike the common player fans, Choi Eunseo preferred team supporters, and she explained her preference.
“But someone just seems so fun to watch.”
“Isn’t it about them being good?”
“Not necessarily. They’re good, yes, but not top-tier currently.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to sponsor the best players? Sports becomes fun when you watch them win, no?”
“Eh, then we’d just set an AI to compete.”
Though Choi Eunhyuk had little understanding or interest in esports—or any sport for that matter—he found it refreshing to see his frail sister’s eyes spark excitement while she spoke.
“We’ve almost arrived.”
From the driver’s seat, Kim Minseo spoke, breaking the silence.
“Look, there it is!”
Choi Eunseo opened the window to gaze outside, her excitement at the ARK logo in sight evident.
“Don’t stick your head out.”
“I’ll park it.”
Though officially employed as a chauffeur, Kim Minseo primarily served as Choi Eunseo’s personal bodyguard, showcasing exceptional parking skills as a side talent.
“So, I’ll contact you after we finish. Maybe you can grab a bite nearby.”
“No, I’ll wait.”
“There’s a gym nearby; why don’t you go there?”
“Is that really alright?”
“It’ll probably take about two hours, so maybe you should work out, shower, then come back.”
Anyways, since Kim Minseo shared no interest in gaming whatsoever, Choi Eunhyuk felt it was unfair to drag her along for the negotiations. Thus, he permitted her to enjoy her preferred pastime.
After these quick arrangements, they stepped out of the car.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
Standing at the building’s entrance was a man who stepped up to offer a handshake.
“Shouldn’t you be wearing a suit for this occasion?”
Choi Eunhyuk usually wore a gown in the hospital and otherwise a suit. To see Kim Hanseong clad in tracksuit for this meeting came as a shock to him.
‘Though we didn’t exactly confirm the time beforehand…’
Due to hospital schedules and a lack of available days, Choi Eunhyuk had pushed for today’s meeting, giving little preparation time to his counterpart.
After accepting the handshake, he introduced himself.
“Choi Eunhyuk, representing Hansan Foods.”
“Kim Hanseong, CEO of ARK.”
“By the way, would it be okay to park the car here?”
“Yes, this is part of our premises.”
After brief introductions, Choi Eunhyuk and Choi Eunseo followed Kim Hanseong inside the building and were led to a reception lounge on the first floor.
“It took me a bit of time to find the necessary documents.”
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault we didn’t schedule properly.”
At this, a woman who appeared to aid Kim Hanseong in administrative tasks, Seo Yieun, entered the room.
“Here are our team results.”
“Did you place first in the lower-tier league and qualify accordingly?”
“Correct.”
The information was clear and concise, tailored to Choi Eunhyuk’s limited knowledge of gaming leagues.
Though hastily prepared, they weren’t difficult to understand.
“What do you think?”
Since Choi Eunhyuk wasn’t knowledgeable enough about such things, he handed the documents over to his younger sister.
“It’s super impressive! No team has made it out of the CK league in the past three years!”
“Haha… Is this your wife? She seems incredibly knowledgeable!”
“That’s my sister!”
“Ah… I apologize. You both look so alike.”
“Are you truly willing to sign on these terms?”
“In addition to this, we’d simply ask that you run one promotional advertisement for our company during the season.”
“Considering how little effort is required, the amount you’re offering feels too generous…”
Kim Hanseong stared at the contract in front of him, feeling dizzy.
It was a figure even the major corporate sponsors couldn’t match.
Though Hansan’s brand name was already well-known, this seemed excessive.
“So, I have a request as well.”
“Ah…?”
“There’s a player, right? Para, or Yoon Seohwa.”
The young girl smiled innocently as she presented her request.
“Since you made it to the higher league, isn’t there an age restriction?”
“Ah… That’s correct.”
That was Kim Hanseong’s current primary concern.
Due to age restrictions, Yoon Seohwa wouldn’t be able to compete in the upcoming LCK Spring season. Without her, it was very likely the team could be demoted back to CK.
“I’ll take care of it for you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Since we’re sponsoring not only ARK but several other teams.”
“Exactly how will you…”
“That’s a secret! Anyway, if all goes well, let Seohwa focus on gaming without worrying about other things.”
After this sponsorship agreement, Kim Hanseong eventually learned that Hansan Foods and Hansan Hospital would become official LCK sponsors, alongside the partial lifting of the LCK’s age restrictions.
