Team Vitality's Sang-hyun "Jeondding" Jeon attended a dinner held at the Élysée Palace during President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to France. While the cultural figures invited by the Korean side to the dinner were film directors and singers, Jeon attended at the invitation of the French government. Team Vitality CEO Fabien "Neo" Devide stated, "His attendance demonstrates the status that esports now holds in French society," adding, "I felt immense pride seeing Jeondding stand at the Élysée Palace as a true ambassador for both France and Korea."
We spoke with Jeon about the invitation process, his experience at the Élysée Palace, and the differences between French and Korean esports culture. Jeon remarked, "It feels like we've reached an era where an esports player can be invited to a state dinner," while naming winning a championship as his goal for the remainder of the season. He also revealed that his dream is to place his own trophy in the trophy display area at the Team Vitality office.
First, please introduce yourself briefly and tell us how you've been doing lately as a player for a French team.
“Hello, I'm Sang-hyun 'Jeondding' Jeon, a Tekken pro gamer for Team Vitality. Although the team is based in France, I live and compete in Korea rather than France. Even as a Korean player, I feel I receive a tremendous amount of love from French fans.
How did you receive the invitation to the dinner, and how did you feel when you heard the news?
“I was attending an event for our sponsor Evnia at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. That was when I received a message with a screenshot from our team manager, Danny (Chief International Officer). It was a chat with our team CEO and co-founder Neo, saying that the French government wanted to invite me. Later, I received the invitation by email as well.
When I first saw the message, I was so shocked I couldn't believe it. I wondered, 'Am I really the right person to go to a place like that?' Our team has so many famous players, so I wondered if it made sense for me to go instead of them. But my manager gave me courage, saying, "That's why you're a superstar."
Could you share some behind-the-scenes stories from the Élysée Palace dinner?
“Since it was my first time attending an event like that, it felt a bit intimidating. Still, there were many Koreans present, so I was able to talk with them.
I also met many incredible people there. I had brief conversations with the head coach of the French national archery team, the head of the space agency, the CEO of Nexon, the president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, an official from the Korea Creative Content Agency, a pianist, and others. Most people were exchanging business cards, but since pro gamers usually don't have business cards, I could only receive them.
What did you talk about when taking the commemorative photo with the two presidents?
“I wanted to introduce myself to the president and explain that I'm an esports player representing a French team. But I was so nervous that I only asked for a photo and couldn't say anything else.
What significance do you think a pro gamer attending a state dinner holds?
“I always thought esports had grown significantly, but I never imagined being invited to a national event like a dinner hosted by two heads of state. The fact that the French government extended the invitation first made me immensely proud as a Korean esports player.
Could you share your experience regarding the differences in how players are treated and fan cultures between France and Korea?
“The biggest difference I felt is the cheering culture. In major tournaments for games like CS2 or Rocket League, countless fans cheer together, but the way they do it is very different. They bring drums, megaphones, and flags, and they have multiple chant songs. It felt much more passionate and open.
How do you view the growing European fighting game scene compared to the current Korean fighting game scene?
“During the Tekken 7 era, I didn't feel the game was that popular in Europe, nor did I feel the players were particularly strong. However, since Tekken 8, the skill level of European players has improved dramatically, and I think Europe now has both higher popularity and better players than North America. As a result, the number of tournaments and players naturally grew, and I feel the scene has expanded significantly compared to before.
Honestly, I think the Korean fighting game scene is going through a tough time. Korean players are incredibly good, of course, but the popularity lags far behind.
What are your thoughts on the future of Korea-France esports relations?
“I realized firsthand that the two countries can become perfectly complementary partners. Beyond simple player transfers, I believe our relations will deepen into a core axis of cultural and sports diplomacy through two-way exchanges, such as sharing coaching systems, running joint bootcamps, and holding regular exhibition matches.
What are your goals with Team Vitality—having extended your contract through 2030—as well as your personal goals?
“My goal is always to lift a trophy at a major tournament. Since joining Team Vitality, I've finished second several times, but I haven't won a title yet. When I first joined and visited the office, there was a display space for trophies, and it was my dream to put my own trophy there. Since I haven't accomplished that yet, my goal for the rest of the season is to win a championship.
Esports has grown so much compared to the past, and it seems many more people are recognizing it. In the past, perception was really negative, but now we've reached an era where an esports player can be invited to a state dinner. Please continue to give us your interest and support.
