Dplus Confirms Salary Delays Amid Ongoing Acquisition

Dplus Kia has confirmed that player salaries have been delayed as the Korean esports organization works through financial issues tied to an ongoing acquisition, raising fresh questions about one of the LCK's most recognizable teams.

Reports surfaced on July 16 claiming that players across multiple Dplus rosters had not received their salaries for at least a month. The organization later acknowledged the delay, saying it had informed players of the situation in advance and that the missed payments were related to the acquisition process.

Dplus Says Acquisition Has Delayed Player Payments

The salary delays reportedly affect several of Dplus' competitive divisions, including League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG, EA Sports FC, and Rainbow Six Siege.

In a statement posted on its official social media channels, Dplus explained that financial complications during the acquisition had temporarily disrupted payroll. The organization added that players had been made aware of the issue beforehand and understood that the delay was expected to be temporary.

While Dplus did not disclose when payments would be completed or provide details about the acquisition itself, the statement appeared intended to reassure fans that the situation had been communicated internally.

Riot Has Previously Acted Against Unpaid Teams

Although Dplus remains active in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and is currently competing internationally at the Esports World Cup 2026, the situation has drawn comparisons to previous cases where publishers intervened over unpaid player salaries.

Earlier this year, Riot Games removed ULF Esports from the VALORANT Champions Tour after the Turkish organization failed to meet its financial obligations to players. The team's roster was later acquired by Eternal Fire, allowing the players to continue competing under a new organization.

There is currently no indication that Riot plans to take similar action against Dplus. However, the precedent highlights the importance publishers place on organizations fulfilling contractual commitments to their players.

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Uncertainty Surrounds One of Korea's Historic Organizations

Formerly known as DAMWON Gaming and DWG KIA, Dplus captured the 2020 League of Legends World Championship and has remained one of Korea's most recognizable esports organizations. The team continues to feature veteran stars such as Heo "ShowMaker" Su, while competing at the highest level of the LCK.

The reported salary delays come at a difficult time, with Dplus fighting to remain competitive at the Esports World Cup while also navigating uncertainty off the server.

For now, the organization maintains that the issue is temporary and linked solely to its pending acquisition. Whether the deal is completed as planned could determine how quickly Dplus resolves its financial situation and avoids further disruption to its teams.

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