Hanwha Life Esports has signaled a strong bid for top honors in the 2026 League of Legends season, announcing the signing of star players Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung and Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok. The strategic acquisitions highlight the team’s ambition to dominate the competitive landscape.
The South Korean organization confirmed Sunday, November 23, that Gumayusi, a highly regarded bot laner, will join its roster for the upcoming season. He previously played for T1, where he had been a fixture since December 2018.
Also joining the team is jungler Kanavi, known for his impactful play and extensive experience. Kanavi’s career includes stints with prominent teams such as Griffin, JD Gaming, and most recently Top Esports, which he left in November 2025 after a year-long tenure.
Welcome, HLE Gumayusi Hanwha Life Esports has welcomed ‘Gumayusi’ Lee Min-hyung as its bot laner. With Gumayusi’s excellent performance and rich experience, Hanwha Life Esports will move towards greater heights. For the 2026 season, much support for HLE’s journey with Gumayusi… pic.twitter.com/LoWXzFRdLw
— Hanwha Life Esports (@HLEofficial) November 23, 2025
These high-profile signings reshape Hanwha Life Esports’ lineup for 2026. The full roster will consist of Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok, Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung, and Yu “Delight” Hwan-jung.
The new additions follow a strong but ultimately unfulfilled 2025 season for HLE. The team reached the finals of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) 2025. There, they were defeated 3-1 by Gen.G Esports.
Hanwha Life Esports also competed in the Worlds 2025 tournament. Their journey ended in the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Gen.G Esports in another 3-1 loss, placing them in the 5th-8th position globally.