[Interview] SportsQ interviews Jaedong

SportsQ Time: November 26, (2009) 1:00 PM

Q: A lot of fans asked questions for Jaedong today, so let's meet him right away! It's Jaedong from Hwaseung Oz! Hello!
A: Hello, I'm Hwaseung Oz's Zerg player Jaedong. I'm happy to meet the SportsQ fans today, and I hope you can learn more about me today.

Q: You won in the OSL yesterday, how are you doing since WCG 2009 is over?
A: WCG was in China so it wasn't difficult getting settled again. I have both Proleague and individual leagues, so I'm concentrating on each match.

Q: Most progamers eat around now, did you eat yet?
A: This is my lunch time, but I ate early today.

Q: We'll start now then. First question by kyo3****. Your vessel snipe in ZvT is very good. How do you concentrate that well? Also, what's the most annoying strategy that Terran can use against Zerg?
A: I think the most important thing is concentration in any matchup. No matter how good you are, you need to put all of your concentration in the game. That is the most important. There are a lot of unique builds nowadays. The TvZ strategies are changing, so it's difficult to change the build as the Zerg since Terrans usually don't go standard anymore.

Q: I see. ayay****'s question. What rank did you get on your physical examination?
A: 1st rank hehe.

Q: Congratulations! move****'s question. During WCG 2009 finals, the 2nd set between you and Stork probably was the best game. How did you feel after that game?
A: I think I tried my best, but I realized during the game that Stork was playing exceptionally well. I felt that he was not an easy opponent, so I didn't let my guard down in the 3rd set. I could concentrate better because of the loss. I wasn't disappointed that I lost, I was happy that I played a fun game.

Q: I see. tjdg****'s question. I even changed my main race because of you. You seem to be not doing as well in Proleague lately, especially in ZvZ. How are you dealing with this?
A: I think I'm doing a little worse than usual, but I never thought that I'm doing badly now. I already achieved a lot in ZvZ, that's why it seems like I'm losing a lot lately. That's why it got to me. The pressure and bad luck built up. My senses weren't in top condition then. I think if I regain my senses, I can once again continue to win ZvZ's.

Q: kwon****'s question. What is the most difficult strategy to face in ZvP? Which player is the most difficult to play against?
A: I can't think of any now. I'll say none. I'm also very confident lately so it's hard to pick one person. I'm confident I can beat anyone that I meet.

Q: hye7****'s question. You are the best at mutalisk micro. Is there a unit that's hard to control for you?
A: Zerg unit? Hmm, I think it's the queen. It's hard to see and it's hard to become friendly with. It's a very good unit if you use well, but it's hard to use.

Q: sset****'s question. You are the best Zerg player right now, but is there another player that's threatening you of that position?
A: The Zerg players lately are all doing well. It's motivating me to try even better. I think Effort's ZvT is very good. Calm and Zero? I think they're all good.

Q: kblp****'s question. On the live interview, it seemed like you were close with Stork but not with Bisu. Did you guys become friends after WCG?
A: No we couldn't. Since we are gamers, we need to see each other often on Battle.net and other places and game together to become closer. It's hard to become friends after just one interview. I get pressured by the media giving a lot of attention to us. It'll be the easiest to become friends if we practiced together but we both don't use Battle.net a lot, so it's difficult T_T.

Q: love****'s question. You are very busy with your schedule, how is your health? How do you control your condition?
A: I'm concentrating on my health a lot lately. I'm trying to work out as much as I can, and I stretch as much as possible. I think my body is a lot worse than 1~2 years ago. I have a lot of days as a gamer in front of me so I think it's important to keep myself healthy.

Q: A lot of people wonder about this. How is Sungji High School?
A: I heard most of the progamers who are high schoolers attend there. It has a lot of students with different professions, so it'll be very interesting.

Q: kji0****'s question. Who is your strongest opponent?
A: I think Flash has been the best lately. He's rising fast, and on the OSL group selections I wanted to be with Flash just the day before. However, it felt like the group was tough already, so I decided to meet Flash later on. I think I'm not doing as well as Flash, so I wanted to wait and recover before meeting Flash. He's that scary, even though he's young.

Q: 1st_****'s question. Who do you think of as your rival?
A: If I had to pick one, Flash. We both did well around the same time, and we played with each other often during that time. I think of him as a rival, if I had to pick one, but I think of all the good players as my rivals. Whenever I see someone play well, it motivates me to try even harder so I don't fall behind.

Q: akwo****'s question. If you had to pick something that you're best at between the Taek-Bang-Lee-Ssang, what would it be?
A: Self-confidence? Well, I think of myself as the best out of them. Always, haha. Not just Taek-Bang-Lee-Ssang, but I think I'm better than anyone else. I have the most passion for the game.

Q: maen***'s question. Where did you learn to dance?
A: It was very difficult then. I didn't know how I would do it. I had games to play, and I had to practice dancing too. I learned it once from the teacher and did the ad one week after. I looked at the video and kept practicing. I still look at it sometimes. I practiced by myself a lot.

Q: Do you have a plan to dance again?
A: I don't really want to haha. I will try my best if I get a chance, but I think gaming is the easiest for me. I tried other things, but gaming is the easiest.

Q: phhu****'s question. Stork said that he practices until 4AM. Do you practice more than that?
A: I'm worrying a lot about my practice time. I got sick because I tried too hard recently, and now I'm watching my condition as I practice.

Q: okok****'s question. I want to know who practices with you the most.
A: I like practicing with my teammates the best. It's the most comfortable because I've been practicing like this. I think it's the best. Since our team is friendly with WeMade FOX, we practice with their team a lot. Our coaches are friends too. Personally, I practice a lot with Stork and Jangbi too.

Q: real****'s question. What mouse do you use? What is a mouse to a progamer?
A: I use Logitech Mini Optical. To a progamer.. What should I say? It's like the shoes of the soccer players. The mouse can change the results of a game or the condition of a gamer. If you get a good feeling when you grip your mouse, you usually win. Your play becomes better too. You end up playing a satisfying game whether you win or not.

Q: sced****'s question. You're now one of Hwaseung's senior players. Who are you looking forward to rising in your team?
A: Killer doesn't do well in proleague, but he's one of the best in our team. He plays well during practice, but he can't show his true skills on stage. Ggaemo is the oldest and the captian, and he tries really hard. I have a feeling he'll do well this season ^^.

Q: bbac****'s question. You seem to be the tenacious type. Did you get that from your father or your mother?
A: I think I'm like my father. I heard that since I was young. My family tells me I am like my father haha. Now that I think about it, I'm very competitive like my father.

Q: matd****'s question. Who takes care of the money you earn? Your parents? Also, I see in interviews a lot that progamers buy their team food after they win a major tournament. What kind of food do you buy?

A: My parents take care of my money. I ask them when I need money. Also, players usually buy food for their teammates when they win. Usually something they don't eat often. I can't think of a specific one, but we ate as a team a lot.

Q: bear****'s question. Who influenced you to play Zerg?
A: It wasn't a specific player that made me choose Zerg. Zerg attracted me the most out of the three races. As I was becoming a progamer, Savior played really well and that made me happy. I still like him as a hyung.

Q: jhso****'s question. Which progamer do you look up to?
A: I have a few rolemodels. Not just progamers, but people from other professions. I like Kim Yuna and Lee Seunggi. I think I have a lot to learn from them.

Q: kimd****'s question. You got the golden mouse after winning Bacchus OSL. What do you think about the MSL? Don't you want to get the golden badge?
A: Of course I want it. I still only have one MSL title, so I have a long way to go, but I think I can definitely achieve it. I want to have a career that only I can achieve.

Q: okok****'s question. Who do you want to meet in the finals? Name one per race.
A: ZvZ is definitely Calm. He was the first Zerg player I lost a series against. I became angry with myself after losing. I want to remember that moment and get my revenge. Flash for Terran. I think it'll be fun to play against him. And Bisu for Protoss. I think his PvZ is the best, and it'll be fun playing with him.

Q: suky****'s question. How much do you drink? What do you do during your free time?
A: I can't drink that well. The most I can drink is a bottle of soju haha. I think to myself when I have free time. I like walking around by myself. I try to read as often as possible, but I haven't gotten much reading done so far. I'm thinking about learning English.

Q: litt***'s question. I heard your wrist hurt during WCG, is it okay now?
A: For a few months now, I had pain on my wrist. Now it's better, and I'm getting it checked regularly. I think it's something every gamer has to deal with. It just happens, and every player has to take care of himself. I pushed myself too hard.

Q: phil****'s question. Which one of your games do you remember the best? Was there a game between other players that you were amazed by?
A: Well, I can remember the best the WCG final match because I won a gold medal haha. I can't watch many games that other players play. I can't think of one right now.

Q: 0165****'s question. How much do you practice a day? What do you do when you're not practicing?

A: About 11 hours in a day. Usually I practice that much. I practice more when an important match is coming up. I practiced a lot last season because I was in both leagues. I practiced so hard.

Q: jdpk****'s question. Coach Cho treasures you. Have you gotten in trouble with him before?
A: I don't think there was a big incidnet. We usually resolve everything through talking. I understand him well. I learn a lot whenever that happens too.

Q: I saw in an article that there would be no Jaedong today without Coach Cho. You must have heard a lot of bad rumors regarding Coach Cho. Please tell us something about it.
A: The people that create those rumors don't know him in person. I think it's inevitable and I try to just pass by them. People attack the coach a lot, and it saddens me watching. If a person does well, people try to only see the bad things about that person. I think it started when our team started doing well.

Q: cher****'s question. I wanted to ask since this interview is on naver. Naver is Korea's biggest search site. Do you search yourself on naver often? What words do you generally use with your name?
A: Of course I do. I do it to see all the articles about me at once. I often look at related searches.

Q: What was the most interesting related search?
A: There are a lot. The nicknames associated with me are funny.

Q: Do you like your nickname "Tyrant"? What's your favorite nickname?
A: I like it. I don't really know the exact definition of "Tyrant" but it makes me look strong. I don't have that many nicknames so I don't know. I think I'll have to go with "Tyrant".

Q: qkek****'s question. The photo shoot at Chengdu released on fomos had good reactions. What do you think about it?
A: I saw the other players' pictures as well. I think my pictures came out very well.

Q: dbtj****'s question. Tell us what messages by your fans made you feel the best during your life as a progamer.
A: There are too many to pick from. The one that comes to my mind is the one that said "I wouldn't watch SC if it wasn't for Jaedong". I felt very good after seeing that. I enjoy seeing fans who enjoy my play.

Q: Do you recognize the faces of some fans that come often to watch? What do you think when you see the fans?
A: There are fans that always come to my matches. I thank them a lot. I keep thinking that I need to do even better, that I need to pay back for everyone's faith in me. It's hard to describe in words haha.

Q: leoa****'s question. Did your surgery go well?
A: Yes! There are no problems, and I can see very well. I think it's very comfortable. I think I should have done this earlier.

Q: Do you go on Starcraft related community sites often?
A: Yes, sometimes. I go to my fancafe the most. I read the articles on Fomos. I go on the Jaedong gallery, but I don't go on Starcraft Gallery. I've been there once because I wondered what kind of site it was, but now I'm afraid to go on it. It makes me sad when I see bad messages haha.

Q: mygo****'s question. You said that Lee Yeon Hee was your dream woman. Did that change? Tell us more about it.
A: If I had to pick from celebrities, it'd be her. That's only looking at the looks. Since I'm a progamer, I like women that understand my job as a progamer. I like women that are understanding and warm in heart.

Q: It's about time to end this. stx_****'s question. What is Hwaseung Oz to you?
A: I don't think that's a difficult question. It's like family to me. I spent the most important times of my life there, and I'm still living there. It's very comfortable. I think it's impossible to feel this comfortable at your workplace with any other job. I think that's why I can live so happily.

Q: wkde****'s question. How long do you think you will be 1st in KeSPA ranking?
A: I want to set a record for longest 1st place in KeSPA ranking. I'll try my best to not lose my place. Since I have a goal, I plan to try hard for another year, and even after that year.

Q: I think this will be the final question. What's your current goal? What do you want to achieve as a progamer?
A: Right now, I want to make sure the tower I've been building as a progamer, with all my achievements, doesn't fall down. I think the most important part is yet to come, and I'll try my best to stay up. I want to keep on trying to get the 4th OSL win and break other records. Also, I want to remain a devoted player. I do want to play better, and I know I won't always play so well. I know that I might start playing very badly. I don't want to devote myself to winning. Rather, I want to devote myself to the game and being a progamer. I don't know when I will retire, but I want to become a player that the new players look up to when becoming a progamer.

Q: Our time is up, but a lot of people are wondering about the player you never want to lose to, if you will use queens in the future, and if you're thinking about joining ACE.
A: Hmm... I don't want to lose to any player. Queen can become a good unit, or the game that ruins your play. If it works well during practice, I think I might use it in the future. My final dream as a progamer would be to make ACE win proleague. Maybe not win, but at least make it to the finals. Look forward to it haha.

Q: Any last words to your fans?
A: For one hour I was able to answer a lot of the questions and express how I felt. I hope everyone learned a little bit more about me, and if I get another chance like this, I want to show you more about myself. It's about time for all the leagues to start, and I think that's the most important part. I will try my best not to disappoint you so look forward to my play ^^

Source: http://news.naver.com/sports/new/sportsQ/cast.nhn?liveCast=194
Translation credit goes to an unnamed lazy translator who is probably LOLFing at this topic.
All images credited to http://fomos.kr

[Interview] SportsQ interviews Jaedong

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