After taking a sabbatical for the 2022 Spring split, top laner Jang "Nuguri" Ha-gwon is returning to compete in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) for DWG KIA, according to a report by Korizon Esports.
The announcement comes nearly two weeks removed from DWG KIA falling in the semifinals and finishing third in the LCK 2022 Spring Playoffs, which saw eventual-champion T1 qualify for MSI 2022.
It appears the devastating 2020 World Champion trio is reuniting this summer, with Nuguri reportedly rejoining jungler Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu and mid laner Heo "ShowMaker" Su on DK.
The last time Nuguri competed in the LCK, DWG KIA was still known as DAMWON Gaming, and it defeated Suning (now known as Weibo Gaming) 3-1 in Shanghai, China to secure Korea's first Summonerâs Cup since 2017.
Soon after, in November 2020, Nuguri and Kim "Khan" Dong-ha swapped spots as the former made his League of Legends Pro League (LPL) debut with FunPlus Phoenix.
Despite finishing as a runner-up in both the Spring and Summer Playoffs in China, Nuguri and Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang, Gao "Tian" Tian-Liang, Liu "Crisp" Qing-Song and Lin "Lwx" Wei-Xiang were still hailed as one of the Worlds 2021 tournament favorites.
Ultimately, however, FPX failed to make it out of the group stage, dropping four games in a row on day four and finishing last in Group A.
In Khan's final series before retiring, DWG KIA fell 3-2 in what was perhaps the greatest Worlds final of all time to Edward Gaming.
This past offseason, Nuguri was linked to rejoining DWG KIA, filling the sizable hole left in the Korean powerhouse's top lane with Khan's departure, before deciding to take a break instead.
Now, with Nuguri seemingly re-energized to take the Rift for DWG KIA this summer, it will definitely be interesting to see how things play out with both DK's current top laners Noh "Burdol" Tae-yoon and Yoon "Hoya" Yong-ho, as well as the LCK standings.
