Just days after not being selected by Riot as a partnered org in the next era of VCT, KIWOOM DRX KIWOOM DRX Korea Rank #4 Flicker Kim Tae-hee (김태희) has announced the release of three coaches and seven players across its main team and DRX Academy DRX Academy Korea Rank #5 NGen Lee Jae-hong (이재홍) XoNs Athan Na Ha-jun (나하준) .

Head coach Pyeon "termi" Seon-ho (편선호) and coach Kwon "Argency" Soon-woo (권순우), who had been with the org since its Vision Strikers Vision Strikers Inactive stax Kim Gu-taek (김구택) Rb Goo Sang-min (구상민) Zest Kim Ki-seok (김기석) BuZz Yu Byeong-cheol (유병철) MaKo Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관) days, were released, as were players Kim "MaKo" Myeong-gwan (김명관), Kang "BeYN" Ha-bin (강하빈), No "free1ng" Ha-jun (노하준), and Song "HYUNMIN" Hyun-min (송현민).

DRX Academy coach Jung "OD" Jin-myung (정진명) and players Park "Kyra" Jae-young (박재영), Lee "apeX" Chan-min (이찬민), and Shin "Krexx" Jae-yong (신재용) were also released as part of the announcement.

MaKo, the rock of the most recent KRX roster and the longest-tenured player by a while, departs the VS/DRX/KRX core that he joined in July of 2021. In that time, he has helped the org reach 11 international events. BeYN, the next-most tenured player, has been in the DRX since 2022, competing for its academy roster at the time. He's competed for F4Q F4Q Inactive Hermes Ahn Byeong-wook (안병욱) Estrella Park Gun (박건) fiveK Yoo Sung-min (유성민) GOLD Geum Chang-wan (금창완) , Maru Gaming Maru Gaming Inactive Xenus Lee Kyung-ho (이경호) mir Hwang Mir (황미르) , and All Gamers All Gamers China Rank #6 Shr1mp Yang Yong (杨勇) K1ra Huang Zhihao (黄志豪) Bai Zhang Zeyang (张泽洋) f4ngeer Roman Smirnov iamgrq Gao Ruiqi (高锐琦) in the past, but is most well-known for his past three seasons with DRX, which started as an Initiator player and ended with him as the in-game leader. free1ng and HYUNMIN joined DRX in the offseason ahead of the 2025 season, and both made their individual impacts felt. While free1ng quickly rose to notoriety as one of the world's most iconic Tejo players, HYUNMIN received praise for his high-octane Duelist play, showcasing his Waylay in the now-iconic 'mosquito comp' that termi engineered to lead DRX to third at Champions last year.

"Following our non-selection to the VCT partnership program, the players and management gathered to discuss our next steps ahead of VCT 2027," KRX said in its statement. "After evaluating the implications resulting from the changes to KIWOOM DRX's partnership status, as well as the broader changes to the league's system, all parties mutually agreed that parting ways is the most responsible path for everyone's immediate interests."

Tracing back to its days as DRX and even further back to its Vision Strikers days, KRX has been one of the most iconic outfits not just in Korean Valorant, but in all of Valorant. Between the 102-match unbeaten streak and its third-place finish at Champions Paris, some of Korean Valorant's most iconic players have suited up for the org in its history. Players like Foxy9 , Zest , Rb , stax , and BuZz have all suited up for the org in their careers.

Despite the releases, KRX also reiterated that it was not exiting Valorant, but that it would "remain fully committed to preparing for our next chapter of VALORANT esports."

KIWOOM DRX KIWOOM DRX Korea Rank #4 Flicker Kim Tae-hee (김태희) 's full roster is now:

  • Kim "Flicker" Tae-hee (김태희)
  • Kim "yong" Ho-yong (김호용)
  • Kim "glow" Min-soo (김민수) (Coach)

While the org will continue in Valorant, no statement has been made on the future of DRX Academy. As of now, it is widely believed that academy teams will not be allowed in 2027.

DRX Academy DRX Academy Korea Rank #5 NGen Lee Jae-hong (이재홍) XoNs Athan Na Ha-jun (나하준) 's full roster is now:

  • Lee "NGen" Jae-hong (이재홍)
  • "XoNs"
  • Na "Athan" Ha-jun (나하준)
  • Yoon "rolex" Jae-Ho (Coach)