EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/forU_edit_pic.jpg)
*Photo credit to uhjoo
On Sunday night I got online and had a chat with GO team member and WCG Korea representative ForU. The following is the majority of our interview, in which I tried to cover various topics but only asked half of what I wanted. I have too much curiosity I guess
Anyways, I�m no mensrea, but I did my best and here you go.Also, before I say anything, a HUGE thanks goes out to uhjoo, who took a lot of time out of his busy day to translate the entire interview for me. His skills gave both my words and the words of ForU the meanings and eloquence we desired.
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Manifesto7: Hi there, I am Manifesto7 from teamliquid.net. Thanks for setting aside the time to speak to me.
ForU: hihi
Manifesto7: To start out, can we get your name and age?
ForU: Lee Jae Hoon, born in 1981.
Manifesto7: You used to use the name ProGuns, but then you switched to ForU, can you tell me why?
ForU: I used to be in Pro clan, but then everyone had to go to the army, so I joined ddak clan. Afterwards, I chose ForU, because it was a neat, cute name.
Manifesto7: So you recently went to San Francisco to participate in the WCG finals. What were your impressions of the trip?
ForU: This was my first trip abroad, so it was interesting. Maybe because there were not so many people in San Francisco, the transportation system was good, so I was envious. I also liked the buildings around city hall [where the venue was] as well as the beach. There were also a lot of Asians around, so I didn�t feel as uncomfortable as I thought I would.
Manifesto7: How do you feel about your play at the tournament? What difficulties did you come across?
ForU: I felt less pressure because all the Korean players were from my team, so I was too relaxed. I didn�t prepare enough though, so I did not play so well in the round of eight and my games were not so good.
Manifesto7: In the round of 16, you played rs.Testie and beat him 2-1. What were your impressions of his play?
ForU: I think he played well. However, he did not make the plays that would have secured victory.
Manifesto7: So after experiencing the play of non-Koreans at WCG, what are the biggest differences between their games and the Korean games?
ForU: I think there is a big difference in control. Also, foreigners seem to play according to the overall flow of the game. Koreans tend instead to go for an aggressive strategy to win, like an all-in rush. Also, they are better at changing the flow and tempo of the game instead of going with it. They can force the play better than non-koreans by changing their styles, which helps control the game.
Manifesto7: When Xellos won, did he at least take you out for dinner?
ForU: No t.t, but I told him to buy something once the money gets deposited. I don�t know what yet.
Manifesto7: Well, all three Korean WCG representatives qualified from the GO team. Was this a deliberate attempt, or how did this come about?
ForU: During the preliminaries, our team was in the process of changing sponsors, so all of us were very motivated to practice and do very well. I think that is why we all qualified.
Manifesto7: Well, qualifying for WCG in Korea has to be much harder that actually winning the event. What did you think of the abuse that went on during the ladder process? (For details about this click here)
ForU: The abuse was inevitable due to the system they used to select the qualifiers, and because there are so many people in Korea that play StarCraft. The system really needs to be changed.
Manifesto7: How would you change the system?
ForU: Hmmm� I think that the top 128 (at least) should be decided on-line, but that the final tournament should be off-line. But I also felt a real sense of accomplishment when I qualified for WCG. I knew there would be many gosu�s there like Testie, Mondragon, and Fisheye that I wish I could have played more.
Manifesto7: It sounds like you at least know the major players of the foreign Brood War scene, how much exposure do you have to that side of SC?
ForU: I know the Nal_Testie id. I don�t know much about non-Koreans, but I practice with PJ on occasion and he is really good. I have also seen replays of Mondragon and he has some skill as well. Also, Frederick [Fisheye] looked very good in his round of 16 matches.
Manifesto7: Yes, it is too bad pj couldn�t make it. It would have been nice to meet him in person.
ForU: yes t.t
Manifesto7: So now to the most important tournaments, what do you think of your play this season in OGN, and what about your upcoming game against Cloud?
ForU: I have not played my own game lately, especially in pvt for various reasons. I will play Jae Wook [Cloud�s first name] tomorrow, and I think there I will re-establish my game.
Manifesto7: Well the pvt matchup is how many people outside of Korea got to know you. Specifically, it was your game against Nada on River of Flames that attracted attention. [Find that game here] Although you lost the game, everyone was saying �who was that guy who made all the gates vs NaDa?� Can I get your impressions of that game?
ForU: I have many regrets about that game. I was unable to properly guard my seven o�clock expansion, and I did not scout his three o�clock expansion fast enough. I made so many gateways because I wanted to ensure my victory. Unfortunately, it instead affected my chance to win, and I have regrets about that.
Manifesto7: So who do you practice with when you have an important game coming up, and what things do you focus on?
ForU: I practice mainly with Xellos, ipxzerg, Iris[gm]� and also JulyZerg. In the past, for important games I tried to focus on preparing my mental state, but now I think just pure practice is more important.
Manifesto7: So who plays you the hardest in each match-up?
ForU: Midas (Ddang) is very hard for terran, but he gets mad when he loses practice games so I don�t practice with him much. For zerg, I don�t know, no real problem player, but they are tough. For protoss Nal_Ra is very tough.
Manifesto7: As a protoss player, many people say you are at a disadvantage many times with the maps being used. Also, many protoss players are now using very risky strategies to win their games, recent examples are like Nal_Ra�s manner pylons and Reach�s proxy gates. Do you think that this is a good idea to try the �all or nothing strategy�?
ForU: Hmm, if it works I think it is fine, but long-term this style cannot work. Nal_Ra is an exception, because he thinks of all the possible scenarios, so he is a very special player.
Manifesto7: You strike me as someone who has a mind for the game, who else has a good mental understanding of StarCraft?
ForU: In the past my hand-speed was faster, but as I got older I got slower. My strategy also has many shortcomings that I need to fix. As for others� GoRush is very smart. He has a good psychological understanding, and he can analyze his opponent�s weaknesses very well.
Manifesto7: You said you are getting slower, and everyone knows StarCraft is a young person�s game. How much longer do you think you will be a progamer?
ForU: Well, my hands aren�t as fast as before, but I am still not slow in comparison to some other gamers. I know also that it is more important to analyze your opponent than to just be fast. I will play until I have to go into the army.
Manifesto7: When is that going to be?
ForU: It is hard to say, maybe 3-5 years, but if conditions are bad maybe 2 years. I really don�t want to go t.t
Manifesto7: It�s ok, move to Canada and stay at my house
ForU: I wish t.t
Manifesto7: In your Challenge League group, Niza qualified 2-0. He is someone who disappeared from progaming for a while, and has now made a comeback, which is pretty rare. I have always thought that he played a very similar style to your teammate ipxzerg. Can you give me the impressions of his play?
ForU: Both of those players play with the idea of damaging their opponent early, and then expanding with the advantage. About the comeback, it is hard to know the details or his personal circumstances, but he put in a lot of hard work, and the Dual League is his reward.
Manifesto7: So for those people who read this and want to join a pro team, tell them a little about your lifestyle.
ForU: From the outside, it doesn�t appear that the lifestyle is so busy because sometimes we don�t play in the leagues a lot. But, once you are on a team, you are not only practicing for yourself anymore. You also have to practice with your teammates so you have very little personal time.
Manifesto7: Can you tell me a little bit about your family? Any brothers or sisters?
ForU: I have both parents, and I have an older brother as well.
Manifesto7: What do they think about your job as a progamer?
ForU: They were kind of against it at first, before progaming was more established. They believed in it more when they first saw me on TV, and now they don�t mind it. When I get asked for a signature I think they secretly like it now.
Manifesto7: Do you get a lot of public attention when you go out?
ForU: Only really when I am at a game site. [PC Bangs and the Studio]
Manifesto7: So other than Brood War, what else do you like to do?
ForU: I like Rock music, and going to concerts. The bands I like are Muse, Slipknot, Gn�t. I also like to play Need for Speed and watching movies.
Manifesto7: Nice taste
. What was the last concert you went to?ForU: The last one was Limp Bizkit� actually Incubus was the last one. SlipKnot is coming next month and I am so excited `.`
Manifesto7: So what does the future hold for ForU?
ForU: I don�t really like to think long term. I have missed many opportunities in StarCraft, but I want to correct them by becoming #1 protoss.
Manifesto7: I have no doubt you will
. Thank you so much for your time, and good luck tomorrow against Cloud.ForU: Thank you `.`
I have a very good impression of ForU after this interview. He took his time to answer my questions, and although I took up over an hour of his time, he had no problem with that, even though he had a Challenge League bo3 the next day. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writting it.
Cheers
