Alleged Faker-based Web Novel Removed from Korean Platform
A Korean web novel has been suspended from Ridibooks, due to allegations that the protagonist is based on Faker, a top League of Legends player. Faker, real name Lee Sang-hyeok, is known as “the Michael Jordan of e-sports,” with six world championship titles in 2013, 2015, 2016 and a three-peat in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
A Mad Dog Catches the Faker
“A Mad Dog Catches the Tiger,” the web novel in question, features a protagonist named Tiger, whose career wins almost match Faker’s (Tiger had five championship wins). The web novel also has allegations of sexualizing the top-ranking League player, as it’s based on the boy love genre.
The adult-rated web novel, meant for audiences aged 19 or older in Korea, was published to Ridibooks on October 24. Upon allegations of using Faker’s likeness, the author, Eun‑gyu Lee, delisted the web novel, issuing an apology to Faker and his fans after dismissing the accusations as “coincidence.” Lee acknowledged that her lack of stricter review caused “confusion and harm,” promising to revise any “problematic” elements and issuing future official statements.
Tiger’s “Legacy”
In A Mad Dog Catches the Tiger, Tiger, also known as Beom Juhwan, achieves five championship titles – two consecutive titles followed by a three-peat after a 10-year hiatus, similar to Faker’s record. The erotic web novel also highlights the team struggling after Tiger suffers a wrist injury, similar to Faker’s injury in 2023, in addition to his debut at 17. According to Dexerto’s Michael Gwilliam, readers pointed out the character’s “mix of stoic leadership and awkward innocence,” apparently similar to the high-ranking League player.
The RIDI platform’s message for A Mad Dog Catches the Tiger’s listing states that sale of the web novel has been “temporarily suspended” at the publisher or copyright holder’s request. The title cannot be viewed or purchased. Meanwhile, after T1’s recent win, Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk wants Faker and T1 to take on his Grok AI in a League match.
According to Jasmine Turner of Koreaboo, “The incident has reignited debates over creative boundaries in fiction, particularly when stories appear to closely mirror the lives of real individuals — especially those who have made history.”
