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Hello ,
I have been thinking for a long time now to take a trip to korea to watch some games
at the Mecca of Brood War / SC2 .
I would really love to get an autograph from Boxer , Jaedong or Idra (I know he is not now in Korea
but maybe he will be for PROLEAGUE or GSL ).
It would be awesome if i could meet with Tastosis ...
But because I am at a long flight distance , (which is also quite expensive for me) i would like to get some opinions from someone who has already been there .
I want to try to make the most of a visit there , because due to costs, it will probably be a once in a lifetime event .
My korean is zero so I am going to need a guide or a lot of incredibly good hints .
Thanks ahead for your support ,
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If you want to go to Korea purely for the Starcraft experience, you're better off attending a big event in Europe instead, like Dreamhack or whatever - it'll be cheaper, more accessible, and probably more interesting. SC2 is not at all a big thing in Korea, and you'd still be able to see / get an autograph or a photo with some of the big Korean names in premier events in Europe or US.
There's plenty of things to see and do outside of Starcraft in Korea, but again, if you are just interested in going there because of Starcraft related things, it's probably not worth it - it's not like they have museums and monuments dedicated to Starleague champions or whatever.
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Germany5113 Posts
Ah I love it when people make statements about Korea when they haven't even been there. SC2 is absolutely a thing in Korea. Especially now that the KeSPA teams and players have also switched over.
I went to Korea in May for the first time and really enjoyed it there. I've been to the GSL Code S Season 2 finals (Mvp vs Squirtle) and to the GOM studio several times. I have met Artosis, Khaldor, Wolf, Snowbird, Seltzer, Torch, Moletrap, ST_Legend, and some of the players like MC that were at the studio at the time (Code A + Up and Downs). I watched OGN on TV every night at my hotel. Seoul is very modern and high-tech, also quite westernized to a certain degree. And even if you do not speak Korean (though at least knowing the Hangul alphabet to decipher things is an immense help), it shouldn't be a problem to get around and make your stay worthwhile. You do have to do a little bit of research and preparation, though.
What I miss in the OP is what exactly you want to know in particular, what are the questions you have?
Your best shot for autographs of the people you named will probably be at the Sindorim Techno Mart studio when they will be having Proleague matches there on weekdays (Mon + Tue, produced by IEG). It's a smaller place than the i'Park Mall studio in Yongsan for weekend matches (Sat + Sun, produced by OGN), so your chances are higher to get close. Same goes for the GOM studio in Mok-dong where you could also meet Tastosis when there is a Code S night.
Depending on what your budget is, flights from Europe to Korea need not necessarily be too expensive. My flights in May were a little less than 700 EUR, and they were direct flights with KLM from Amsterdam to Incheon and back (plus connecting flights from Berlin). Just research flight fares on a comparison website. I paid about as much for my 10-day stay at a 3/4-star business hotel with certain amneties (in-room desktop computer, high-speed internet, large HD TV, etc.) in Gangnam (which isn't the cheapest place in Seoul if you're a student, Hongdae may be better). Just research that as well to find a good offer. It's all about research and timing.
Again, craft a plan for yourself, research things, decide what you want to do there, find the right time (in tune with SC2 events there), mind the weather extremes in Korea (very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter), familiarize yourself with the public transit system in Seoul, and then ask the questions you may have.
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SC2 isn't what it used to be, even in Korea.
As Salazarz said, better wait for the next Dreamhack/IEM/other big tourney in Europe and attend that.
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On December 31 2012 08:04 Proseat wrote:
Ah I love it when people make statements about Korea when they haven't even been there. SC2 is absolutely a thing in Korea. Especially now that the KeSPA teams and players have also switched over.
Eh, I've been in Korea 4 times this year, and while you could say that SC2 is 'a thing' in Korea, there isn't a whole lot of Starcraft-related things you can only do in Korea. The weekly games in OGN / GSL studios can be fun if that's your thing, but I dare say any of the premier events like DH, IEM, IPL etc are at the very least just as entertaining, and it's not like there are more SC2 fans in Korea than anywhere else in the world. It's not even played in PC bangs at all.
Don't get me wrong, Korea is a great place to visit, people are friendly, food is great, lots of stuff to see and do you wouldn't find anywhere else - but if you're on a tight budget and Starcraft is the main if not the only reason for your visit I'm pretty sure you'd get more bang for your buck by going to the next big Euro event instead, especially if you don't speak any Korean at all.
If you have your mind set on going to Seoul, you should definitely learn how to read Hangul (it's really a lot easier than it looks), and some basic phrases like ordering food / buying things / introducing yourself. I can guarantee you it'll make your trip much more enjoyable. You should also try to get in touch with someone local well in advance (Koreans are seriously the most friendly people in the world and it's super easy to find someone to show you around online, just check websites like interpals.net or couchsurfing.com if that's your thing).
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On December 31 2012 08:04 n0ave wrote:
SC2 isn't what it used to be, even in Korea.
As Salazarz said, better wait for the next Dreamhack/IEM/other big tourney in Europe and attend that.
SC2 isn't even 5 years old, and people are reminiscing about how it "used to be?" Come on now. OP I'm not an expert on Korean SC2 sites, but you could talk to the teams and ask if you could see a practice session or something like that. You should got to a TL get together or schedule one in Korea! Also just enjoy Korea for the fact you can watch GSL, SPL, and BJSL in person :D. If you had more pointed questions I assume if you PM-ed anyone living in korea right now, they could help.
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On December 31 2012 08:04 n0ave wrote:
SC2 isn't what it used to be, even in Korea.
As Salazarz said, better wait for the next Dreamhack/IEM/other big tourney in Europe and attend that.
If anything, with proleague, it's bigger than it's ever been. Definitely worth coming to check out the studio games, enjoy the atmosphere and meet some players/commentators.
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EPT
