The South Korean esports entity T1 has formalized an agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the Power Analysis and Evaluation Team of the South Korean Navy.
This MOU sets the stage for both groups to jointly enhance the Navy’s capabilities in cognition and analysis, through incorporating technological advancements from the video game and competitive gaming sectors.
According to initial reports from the Korean news agency MBN, the Navy intends to draw insights from T1 by conducting collaborative research focused on tactical analysis and devising strategies, utilizing data gathered from T1’s competitive matches.
Beyond supporting the Navy in advancing its digital operational frameworks, the two entities plan to jointly organize numerous academic conferences and seminars. These events will serve to exchange knowledge regarding preparation for forthcoming digital environments in operational contexts.
Ahn Woong-gi, T1’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed his anticipation that this newly formed pact would facilitate the combination of esports’ cultural influence with the Navy’s physical strength, aiming to forge a national “smart power.” He further stated that T1 plans to broaden its collaborative endeavors with the Navy and is committed to providing robust backing for the Navy’s initiatives to bolster its digital and cybersecurity proficiencies.
During 2025, **T1** achieved global recognition as **the most-viewed esports team**, accumulating 196 million hours of viewership while participating in various prominent competitions. Significantly, the organization secured its fifth championship title at the **League of Legends World Championship**, overcoming KT Rolster in the ultimate match.
T1 furthermore disclosed its intention not to confine its specialized knowledge solely to the naval domain. The organization affirmed its commitment to extending the strategic and data analytics proficiencies inherent in the esports industry into “diverse public and defense sectors,” with the goal of developing innovative collaborative frameworks for the future.
Gaming Competitions and Naval Forces
The South Korean Navy now represents the newest military branch to engage in competitive gaming projects. Previously, in July 2025, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy inaugurated a specialized esports facility aboard the **HMS Prince of Wales**, as part of its continuing partnership with **British Esports**.
In other regions, **North America’s Navy** has forged alliances with numerous organizations and events throughout the last six-year period. For instance, in 2020, it established collaborations with **Evil Geniuses** and **ESL** to develop content series and to stage interactive displays **at DreamHack festivals**.
