SK Telecom is a South Korean telecommunications and technology company and the principal corporate backer behind T1. Its esports involvement grew from team sponsorship into ownership, governance and broader participation in South Korea’s professional gaming system.
Esports Involvement
The company created the SK Telecom T1 identity in 2004 after taking over the StarCraft team built around Lim “BoxeR” Yo-hwan. The organization later became one of the defining names in League of Legends before shortening its public brand to T1.
SK Telecom also played an institutional role in Korean esports. In 2008, the company took a leading position on the board of the Korea e-Sports Association, connecting one of the country’s largest telecommunications groups with the governance of professional competition.
