Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk has issued a personal statement addressing recent reports related to his taxes, stating the situation arose from “carelessness” in asset management rather than any attempt to hide income.
In the statement, the veteran AD carry said on Instagram that all income taxes had already been fully paid and emphasized that he “did not intentionally hide or conceal any income.” He added that the issue stemmed from two specific areas tied to how his finances were handled over several years.
According to Ruler, the first issue dates back to 2018, when his father stepped away from his own job to support his son’s career full-time. Before Korea introduced a certified agent system for esports players, Ruler’s father informally handled responsibilities similar to an agent, including contract coordination, scheduling outside matches, and even university-related matters.
During that period, expenses tied to his father’s role were reported as business costs. However, South Korea’s National Tax Service later determined those expenses did not qualify as deductible, creating part of the dispute. Ruler stated he respects that judgment, and noted that his father is also taking the matter seriously.
The second issue involved a stock nominee arrangement. Ruler explained that, due to his limited experience managing assets at the time, he had asked his father to oversee certain holdings under his name. Authorities ruled this fell under gift tax regulations. Ruler said the applicable taxes have since been fully paid, and the shares have been transferred back into his own name.
He stressed that neither situation involved income splitting or attempts to obscure assets, describing the overall situation as a result of “carelessness” in managing personal finances.
The LCK has acknowledged the situation involving Ruler and confirmed it is currently under review. The league office said it will establish a dedicated investigation committee, which will include third-party external experts to ensure the process remains fair and objective.
At this stage, no interim measures have been imposed, with the LCK prioritizing fact-finding before determining whether further action is necessary. Any additional decisions will be announced after the investigation concludes.
Under LCK regulations, the league office has broad authority to investigate players, staff, and team personnel for potential violations of rules tied to conduct, contracts, or broader competitive integrity standards. Individuals involved are required to cooperate in good faith. Failure to do so, including withholding information or providing false details, may result in penalties at the league’s discretion.
Ruler also said he will cooperate with any review conducted by the LCK and is committed to handling his assets more transparently in the future. Earlier, Ruler was fined by LCK for another issue of verbal abuse in his matches.
Ruler is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished AD carries in the history of League esports. He rose to global prominence with Samsung Galaxy, where he won the World Championship 2017, defeating SK Telecom T1 in the final. That victory established him as one of the defining bot lane players of his era. Across his career, Ruler has remained a consistent presence at the highest level of competition, later finding continued domestic success in the LCK and the LPL.
