Riot Games announced Tuesday that it has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Naver and SOOP covering the Korean professional League of Legends esports league, LCK, beginning in 2026 and running through 2030.

The agreement positions Naver and SOOP as the exclusive domestic broadcast platforms for the LCK during the partnership period. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal has been described by industry observers as one of the largest long-term partnerships in esports, comparable in scale to major domestic professional sports agreements in South Korea.

Under the new arrangement, live LCK broadcasts in Korea will be available exclusively on Naver and SOOP starting in 2026. Highlights, behind-the-scenes content and other supplementary materials will continue to be published on the league’s official YouTube channel, though content will debut first on the two partner platforms. Coverage of international League of Legends tournaments, including First Stand, the Mid-Season Invitational and the World Championship, will remain available on YouTube under the current distribution model.

Riot Games said the partnership is designed to balance broad accessibility with long-term growth for the league. The three companies emphasized that the agreement extends beyond traditional media rights, framing it instead as a foundation for expanding fan engagement across digital platforms and in-person experiences.

One of the largest strategic partnerships of its kind

As part of the deal, Naver has secured naming rights to the LCK’s official venue, LoL Park, which will be rebranded as “Chzzk LoL Park” beginning in 2026. Riot and Naver plan to introduce dedicated branding zones and seating areas within the arena, with the goal of linking the on-site viewing experience more closely to Naver’s Chzzk streaming platform. Naver will also explore integrations between Riot accounts and its services, including shopping, reservations and payment systems.

SOOP, which has focused on streamer-led broadcasts and team partnerships, said it plans to further expand its interactive features. The platform already supports viewing across multiple devices and offers tools such as time-shifted viewing, match predictions and Player of the Match voting.

“The partnership marks an important milestone that elevates the scale and trust of the LCK ecosystem,” said Lee Jung-hoon, secretary general of the LCK. He added that working with Naver and SOOP would help the league deliver greater value to fans and position the LCK as premium entertainment across generations.

Launched in 2012, the LCK is widely regarded as one of the most successful regional leagues in League of Legends esports, with a record 10 World Championship titles.