On August 20, Nongshim RedForce secured a spot in the Play-In Stage by defeating Kiwoom DRX 2-0 in Round 4 of the '2026 LoL Champions Korea (LCK)' at Chzzk LoL Park in Jonggak.

After the match, Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon began the interview by saying, "While I'm not completely satisfied with the performance itself, it's a meaningful victory in that we broke our recent poor form."

When asked about the impact of their overwhelming loss in the 2026 KeSPA Cup final on the team atmosphere, he commented, "It's true that our performance during the KeSPA Cup was very disappointing. However, using today's victory as a stepping stone, we have created an opportunity to turn the team atmosphere back in a positive direction."

Regarding securing a spot in the Play-Ins with this victory, he emphasized, "Although we made it to the Play-Ins, we didn't secure our spot comfortably. From now on, we must approach every match as if it were our last, and the entire team needs a higher level of focus."

He maintained a calm demeanor regarding his mindset on big stages as a veteran. Kingen noted, "Rather than feeling like I need to play exceptionally well just because it's a big stage, I try to maintain consistent performance in every match. Maintaining composure in the important matches ahead will be the most crucial."

He singled out 'comeback ability' as the top area the team urgently needs to improve. Kingen said, "There isn't just one or two things we need to work on, but ultimately, what strong teams have in common is that they don't miss the timing to bounce back when the game turns against them. Currently, our team falls far short in that area, making improvement urgent."

Finally, regarding his determination for finishing the regular season and approaching the Play-Ins, Kingen concluded, "In the end, professionals must prove themselves through results rather than process. Rather than fancy words, I want to show it through match results. We will wrap up the remaining regular season matches well and enter the Play-Ins in a good spot."