Korean League of Legends Championship winner Rookie granted Chinese Green Card

Shanghai's Jinshan District announced on Thursday that Korean player Song Eui-jin, known professionally as Rookie, who won the 2018 League of Legends (LOL) World Championship, has been granted the People's Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

Rookie, a professional LOL player from Korea, plays as a midlaner for Chinese team Invictus Gaming, which he first joined back in 2014. He has been a prominent figure in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), the top-level professional league for League of Legends in China.

As the captain of his team in 2018, Rookie led Invictus Gaming to victory at the World Championship, securing the mainland's first world championship title in the game.

Throughout his career, Rookie has earned multiple accolades, including regular season MVP for the Spring and Summer Split several times, Yearly MVP, and Best Midlaner of the year. He was also selected as one of the top 10 LPL players during the region's 10th anniversary celebrations.

Having played in the region for over a decade, the timing of the green card issuance is particularly significant for Rookie, who is currently in a transitional period of his career.

His management company expressed that the green card arrived at an opportune moment, as they are also exploring strategies to attract and retain new foreign talent.

However, no information has been released regarding Rookie's plans following his receipt of the green card.

The Green Card, officially known as the People's Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, is a legal identity document issued by the National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China. It is granted to foreigners who meet specific conditions and are approved for permanent residence in the country.

Historically, due to stringent requirements that applicants make significant contributions in China, the issuance of the "Green Card" has been limited, earning it the reputation as one of the hardest green cards to obtain.