Nongshim Esports, the organisation behind League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) team NS RedForce, has announced it is on track to record its first-ever annual operating profit in 2025, driven by diversified revenue streams and controlled spending.

The financial update, shared by Founder and CEO Jihwan Oh, comes as the organisation finalises its roster for the 2026 season with the high-profile signing of former world champion Lee “Scout“ Ye-chan.

This projected profitability marks a significant milestone for the company, which has pursued a long-term business model focused on building self-sustaining assets. Oh stated that the organisation is expecting to achieve over 7 billion KRW (approximately $4.76 million) in revenue for 2025, alongside a slim operating profit. He further projected a similar level of profit and loss for the 2026 season following the reinforcement of the team’s roster.

A key factor in this financial performance is the reduced reliance on its parent company, Nongshim Co., Ltd. Oh highlighted that dependency on the parent company’s sponsorship now stands below 30%.

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The improved financial results are attributed to the growth of its own business ventures. Oh specifically highlighted the performance of its PC Bang (gaming cafe) operations, thanking its partner in the venture, BNM Company. This, alongside revenue from its academy, increased LCK distribution shares, and tournament winnings, has driven the organisation’s reduced dependency on its parent company.

“The meaningful thing is that 2025 is scheduled to be our first year recording over 7 billion KRW in revenue and, at the same time, an operating profit (albeit just barely),” Oh stated on LinkedIn. “From 2022, for about three years, we calmly made the choice to build business assets for the future amid the storm of player investment sweeping the LCK.”

While CEO Jihwan Oh’s announcement projects a positive internal financial trajectory for Nongshim Esports, it arrives against a backdrop of significant financial strain for the LCK league itself. This contrast raises questions about the broader ecosystem’s health, as the league reported accumulated losses of 42.7 billion KRW (~$29.8 million) over the past three years.

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