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One of the biggest veterans to influence and revolutionise the game announced his retirement last week.
This was the interview with Kang Do Gyung, aka the great H.O.T.Forever following the announcement of his retirement.
What was the main reason for your decision?
It was always going to be sad and difficult but I have always been waiting for the right moment to retire, and now seems to be the best time.
How much of it was down to the military service issue?
It was definitely a crucial factor. I got a call-up towards the end of last year. I intend to begin my time in July. I think I felt it was time to retire when I was no longer satisfied with the amount I was actually achieving compared to the work I’ve put in as a progamer.
During your career what were your most memorable and disappointing moments?
I was happiest when I had just begun around the year 2000 fighting it out with Garimto in the final. Also when my team won against SKT1, as well as our victory in the Grand Final. It has been great to be living as a progamer. I was happy whenever I was playing in front of my fans. The most disappointing time was coming runner-up at the KeSPA Cup. I had a gut feeling it would be the last time I would experience playing on the big stage but the results were not so good.
How does it feel having come to the final end?
It’s not hit me yet. Actually it’s been some time since I had made my mind up on retiring sooner or later when I was faltering on my individual games. Everytime I was thinking it over the fans would call out asking to at least play in the 2v2s, and how vital I was to Hanbitstars. I also thought maybe I could make a comeback and continued my career.
How is it like to leave your predecessors?
I’m very sorry. If I was leaving at an easier time for my team I wouldn’t feel so regretful. It was very tough for me to approach Lee Jae Gyun, my manager and ask him to designate a new captain, having made up my mind. Neither of us were prepared for such a moment and he couldn’t decide. Before I go I will undertake a coach’s role. I must make sure Hanbitstars are on steady ground before I leave.
If you were to return to the progaming scene, what would you like to do?
Right now I haven’t thought about it. I’ll think it over during my time in the army. I still want to play, or maybe become a coach or a TV presenter. I’ll work myself back into the industry.
-What were your fan’s reactions?
When Jo Hyung Geun(Clon) was retired with little reply, there were a lot of disappointed fans. The administrators on my fansite asked that if I was to retire, they would like a personal reply rather than simply to find out through published articles. After I wrote it, I announced to the those in charge of my fanbase in person I would retire over a meal. I was so sad, I could’nt get myself to eat. After the official announcement of my retirement there was an astonishing amount of feedback. On top of their disappointment, some fans were even asking me to play a little longer and prolong my retirement.
What’s your plan for the next few months?
Up until now my role was a gamer but now I will continue supporting the team offstage as a coach and as the big leader of Hanbitstars. I made agreements with my manager that I will have a month of time by myself to reflect on a few things before finally enlisting.
Your final words.
I'd like to thank the Hanbitsoft company chairman Kim Young Man for his generous support over these years. Also it was only due to the hard work of our manager Lee Jae Gyun that I could ever be who I am now. I also want to show my appreciation for those I have had the pleasure of working alongside: Garimto, Kingdom, Reach, Sync, Junwi, Silent_Control to name a few as well as the young recruits. “The Mastermind Zerg” Kang Do Gyung will cease to exist but I will never forget the fans who have made everything possible, for me to have had so much fun as a progamer.
Here was his official announcement:
Hello, this is Kang Do Gyung, with my final few words to you as a progamer.
Firstly I’d like to thank the members of the Korean eSports association and the media for this opportunity. I began my life as a progamer way back in 1999 in Pusan. I made my way to Seoul as a part of Team SM, sleeping slouched in small living spaces with my daily ramen as my sole source of succulence.
I have been the captain of Hanbitstars since 2001 thanks to Kim Young Man, the Hanbitsoft chairman. On the back of amazing memories, glorious success and commiserations of loss I was able to get where I am now.
After 7 long years, I now intend to end my life as a progamer…
Although you will no longer be able to see H.O.T.Forever play, I hope my name will remain forever in your memories.
Adieu, HOT 
-Translated from FiFo-
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great translation thx FireBlast!
It's just strange feeling to see retiring one of former progamers. I heard about him when I was starting to play BW
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Thanks for the interview FireBlast!
Goodbye H.O.T-Forever! I am sad that I wasn't around in your time. 
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hopefully he'll return as a coach or something.
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I have such weird feelings over this
I'm not sure how to explain it, but I've always felt like H.O.T would always be a name mentioned when progaming is being discussed, and I was comfortable knowing that he would always be there. Since he's leaving the scene, that comfort is missing, and it's a very sad feeling
Good bye, H.O.T-Forever, your fans never gave up on you because you never stopped trying for us
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Yeah, feels weird. He used to be the uncontested best zerg in the world when I started following progaming (his nickname was HOT-486 back then) and I've always hoped he could make a comeback. Too bad.
Hope he'll do a good job putting Hanbit back onto the right path. (I'm pretty sure he would make a good caster as well, he used to present some TV shows on OGN iirc.)
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That sucks...I hope he does make a comeback after his time in the army, though I doubt it. Always sad to see legends fall....one love.
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Thanks for the translation.
Sorry to see another one go.
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Baltimore, USA22254 Posts
Thanks for translation
I wasn't around while HOT was really any good... all I really knew of him was he was gosu 2v2 for a while. T_T
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is awesome32274 Posts
Thanks for translating
ps:
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I share the sentiment of most others in this thread. HOT is and has always been one of my favorite gamers, Ive always secretly hoped he would make a comeback. But I realize it would have probably been extremely hard.
Back when BW was a little more new(Maybe 02 or 03) HOT was really an interesting 1:1 player, and I still have good memories of watching his game vs Nada on Bifrost. He also was pretty amazing in the GhemBC(I think this was the name) league, where the maps were extremely awkward and probably unplayable by todays standards. But he would win on them and I believe finished 1st in one of those and top 4 in the other(I hope I remembered the name of the league correctly, it was the one with Emperor of Emperor and Forest of Abyss).
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On February 11 2006 16:54 red.venom wrote:
I share the sentiment of most others in this thread. HOT is and has always been one of my favorite gamers, Ive always secretly hoped he would make a comeback. But I realize it would have probably been extremely hard.
Back when BW was a little more new(Maybe 02 or 03) HOT was really an interesting 1:1 player, and I still have good memories of watching his game vs Nada on Bifrost. He also was pretty amazing in the GhemBC(I think this was the name) league, where the maps were extremely awkward and probably unplayable by todays standards. But he would win on them and I believe finished 1st in one of those and top 4 in the other(I hope I remembered the name of the league correctly, it was the one with Emperor of Emperor and Forest of Abyss). Oh the memories Those were horrible maps, though maybe I think this because I was so bad at this game then and couldn't appreciate it. Anyway, I only got into progaming as H.O.T. started losing, something most of the really oldschool progamers fall into. It's sad that he's leaving, though it was going to happen soon. Most people even thought he already retired. He always seemed like a cool, friendly guy from what I could see from VODs.
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Goodbye H.O.T, one of all my zergs inspiration!
Your name will be remembered forever!!!!!!
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I wanted to write something like "goodbye, I liked your ZvT" but then I saw the picture
WTF ARE THIS HIS UNDERPANTS OR WHAT?
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After 7 long years, I now intend to end my life as a progamer…
I thought someone's to slit wrists on this line... lol
much respect to one of the best early generation zerg.
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On February 11 2006 17:32 8882 wrote:I wanted to write something like "goodbye, I liked your ZvT" but then I saw the picture WTF ARE THIS HIS UNDERPANTS OR WHAT?
wtf are you talking about
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That's just his Hanbit Star's uniform
I don't see anyting weird about that picture except for the fact that he looks fatter than usual. That's probably because he loves eating at TGI Fridays, though
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
lol underpants? hahah hmm he's wearing Nike's even though he's sponsored by K-Swiss 
hmm i never knew much about him, just knew he was a famous zerg but never saw any of his replays or vods or anything but still sad to see a progamer go! bye H.O.T. :|
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7 years. wow has time gone by! I was there since the beginning!
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Anyone have a highlight video for HoT-Forever??..the only VOD I ever saw was Nada vs Hot on Isles of Siren...
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
goodluck hott
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On February 11 2006 17:32 8882 wrote:I wanted to write something like "goodbye, I liked your ZvT" but then I saw the picture WTF ARE THIS HIS UNDERPANTS OR WHAT?
its his leg.. not is underpants rofl
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CruiseR
Poland4014 Posts
hahaha , ive just realized its his leg yea ;O
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well H.O.T was somehow my idol... not good to see him leaving. Anyway does anybody know what\'s going on with HanbitStars? And did In_Dove joined them? Because I\'ve heard from him and few other ppl that he is going to join HStars...
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hehe nice
I hope he is going to own the reallife now
Regards
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HOT was my favorite player for about 2 years in the time he played single player also. I saw some VODs of him and i was just amazed how he would manage to win even tho he hardly had any units at all. His attacking style was amazing. i remember best an exhibition match between the 4 best players of each race: boxer, intotherain, HOT and Chrh, in which he played very well.
Also, who didn't like his earlier hairstyles^^?
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Belgium9947 Posts
On February 11 2006 23:26 YunhOLee wrote:Show nested quote +On February 11 2006 17:32 8882 wrote:I wanted to write something like "goodbye, I liked your ZvT" but then I saw the picture WTF ARE THIS HIS UNDERPANTS OR WHAT? its his leg.. not is underpants rofl
he means the thing at his ankles
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Sweden33719 Posts
On February 12 2006 02:46 QooiRae[InCa] wrote:
well H.O.T was somehow my idol... not good to see him leaving. Anyway does anybody know what\'s going on with HanbitStars? And did In_Dove joined them? Because I\'ve heard from him and few other ppl that he is going to join HStars...
Yes, dove joined.
And to red.venom, it was GhemTV. I think he finished 2nd (losing to nada) but I'm not sure.
Gembc/ghembc were the guys who used to do that Race Wars show (where nada dominated for a while iirc).. They merged with MBC right? Or something like that?
Sad to see him leave, he seems like a really nice guy and is one of the few truly old school players left (I guess kingdom and maybe boxer would be the only other two who are comparably old school).
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Yeah this guy is a really nice guy.
This is a smart decision.
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omfg, those topics are so sad everytime. =/
I don't know why, but it's always so sad for me, when something end and someone says "goodbye".
GL HOT
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Tears almost came to my eyes. Good bye Hot you will be remembered.
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sad news
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Saddest thing is how few replies this thread is getting:[ The leg thread got like 8309753 replies, even the thread about Day quitting Rs has like 3x:[[[ sad sad
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Well... HOT IS from a time they still played Rivalry rofl -_-;;
What's there to say? Honestly, he did drop off, but no one ever really hated him for it.
It was just a sad case,then he came back as a sexy as hell 2:2.
I remember Hanbit used to be The Team... now it's no longer the case...
Things done changed...
Still, he was one of the greats and shouldn't be forgotten. He even went to WCG to get humiliated guys... where's the love?
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I'm surprised noone has mentioned the keyboard his posing with...
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On February 13 2006 09:30 VietBitter wrote:
I'm surprised noone has mentioned the keyboard his posing with...
no "I'd hit it" posts too
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It always bothers me whenever a progamer retires, whether it be an oldschool one or someone fairly new.
GL in the rest of your life H.O.T., Thanks for the memories!
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