This is DES's retirement interview with Lee Seung-Suk (s2 from SK Telecom T1).
Lee Seung-Suk "I am happy to have been a progamer"
This off-season, compared to other teams, we heard of many more retirements from SK Telecom. Protoss Doh Jae-Wook (BeSt) and e-sports legend Kim Taek-Yong (Bisu), and last week, the so called "Park Ji-Sung" (famous Korean soccer player) of e-sports Lee Seung-Suk, who had served faithfully as the team captain.
Lee Seung-Suk is not as prolific a player as fellow retirees Doh Jae-Wook and Kim Taek-Yong. But for the players of SK Telecom T1, his retirement was perhaps the most upsetting news. His contributions as the most senior member of the team and his ability to shape the atmosphere cannot be ignored.
Among e-sports employees, Lee Seung-Suk was particularly popular with reporters. He was both well mannered and talkative. However, he is most missed by the journalists for a different reason. His innocent nature and kind behavior made him easy to play jokes on. He was an unfortunate player who was not able to deliver the results that he was capable of.
After announcing his retirement, when we called Lee Seung-Suk to request an interview, he answered with an odd tone. He said repeatedly, "I though I would just retire quietly like this, but are you really going to interview me?" He thanked us, saying, "I was not able to qualify for individual leagues even once, so I thought I would have to retire without being able to say anything, so I am thankful for this opportunity." For the interviewer, this was even more motivation to continue.
Lee Seung-Suk's personality was perhaps not well-matched to the competitive world of e-sports. However, he said that he never regretted being a progamer. The thus far unknown story of Lee Seung-Suk, we invite you to listen along.
The e-sports he loved, the teammates he loved Lee Seung-Suk told us he wished to do the interview at Yongsan. Having spent so much time there as a player, it might have been tiresome, but he wished to end his life as a progamer there. Lee Seung-Suk was a progamer who truly loved e-sports.
"e-sports encompassed all of my life and all of my dreams. Although I was not able to leave a significant mark on e-sports, it still represents my hopes and dreams. The desire to put the final touches on my career story here at Yongsan also arose from that feeling."
Truthfully, Lee Seung-Suk was never able to qualify for the Round of 16 in individual leagues, and was not a big player in Proleague. From an outsider's perspective, he might not have appeared a very passionate player. However, Lee Seung-Suk's love of the game was unmatched.
To learn of how much he loved e-sports, we asked about his saddest moment during his career. Most players will talk about the time they lost in a league final, or when they went on a long losing streak. However, Lee Seung-Suk's answer was completely different.
"The match-fixing scandal was the most difficult time for me. E-sports was caught in a storm, and recovering would necessarily take a long time. Even now it is hard to bear. That event cut down the e-sports industry and even continues to influence many of the current problems today. The match-fixing scandal, which made all progamers worried for the future was my most difficult moment."
Perhaps we should see it as virtuous. We thought he just looked like Park Ji-Sung on the outside, but his deep thinking is also similar to "Captain Park". That answer led into the next one.
"Also, my current announcement of retirement is my other saddest moment. The current players cannot feel joy playing the game right now. Looking at the empty stadiums, we cannot help but sigh. Some say that StarCraft 2 is not as fun, but the fact that progamers cannot play with the same drive as before is worsening the situation. Why did this happen? The frustrating thing is that no one is taking responsibility and just complains about the game itself. After all, no one can put things back as they were before. Knowing that my teammates must continue playing in an environment like this makes me miserable."
Even in his retirement interview, instead of talking about himself, Lee Seung-Suk continues to worry about the whole of e-sports. We could not disagree with his words, and came to feel the same pains.
The kind Lee Seung-Suk, the worst personality for a progamer If the match to advance to the Round of 16 was tomorrow and a good friend called to ask for help, most progamers would probably refuse. In particular, the most competitive progamers are this focused. Truthfully, this is the mindset of a professional, but to bystanders, it may appear self-centered.
However, Lee Seung-Suk was told by his teammates, "Please think more about yourself". While preparing for the qualification game, he overheard a teammate saying, "something bad has happened, it's so difficult". He immediately went and consoled that friend. The next day, Lee Seung-Suk was eliminated in style.
"I wouldn't call it kindness so much as behavior unbecoming of a professional. But what could I do? I value my friends just as much as my victories as a progamer. I have lived that way for twenty years; it would be wrong to turn back on it in an instant."
Looking back, Lee Seung-suk tells us he was envious watching the more successful progamers. He also wanted to be a winner, but it was unlikely, and he gradually came to believe that his personality was not well-suited for the job of a progamer.
"Teammates and employees would call me a "kind player" but honestly speaking, I was just not a very professional player. Looking at my career, I regret it a little. Since I was not able to act like a professional, didn't I end up where I am today?"
The greatest gift from e-sports: friends To Lee Seung-Suk, the thing that made him most love e-sports was "friends". Since e-sports gave him these valuable friendships, he could not help but love it. The term "angel without wings" would be insufficient to describe him.
"As a progamer, I made incredibly valuable friendships. My SK Telecom teammates are all precious to me without exception. Fighting with each other and struggling together, we became true friends. Although I've retired, I keep in contact with my teammates. I've been continuing to keep in touch with Choi Ho-Sun (sSak), who retired a while ago, and Kim Taek-Yong, who also retired recently."
In particular, Kim Taek-Yong and Lee Seung-Suk live only five minutes apart. For some reason, it seems like they would not get along. Lee Seung-Suk described Kim Taek-Yong as a cute friend who has a unique charm. Among his teammates on SK Telecom, Lee Seung-Suk quarreled most often with Kim Taek-Yong, but also shared the most stories and memories. Lee Seung-Suk received was able to make that kind of friend.
"I believe that friends are the most important thing in life. I want to continue to carry these friendships forward into the future. With the experiences from the e-sports which supported me to the age of twenty, I will try to go forward into society and become a good person."
Though he would not be written into history as a progamer, Lee Seung-Suk clenched his fists in determination. He expressed his thanks for the fans who had supported him until now. In order to repay their love, he promised to return as a great member of society.
"If even a single fan remembers the name Lee Seung-Suk, I will be happy. Wherever I am, my love for e-sports will not change. I will be cheering from afar. I wish that everyone will work hard to make a better environment where the players can compete. Up to this point, I am happy to have played my part in e-sports. I hope that everyone else can find happiness as well."
The current players cannot feel joy playing the game right now. Looking at the empty stadiums, we cannot help but sigh.
Well, this is his best quote in the interview. Never have truer words have been said
I really fear for KespA player reading this... I really like SC2 and love BW but... that makes me sad the new game killed the greatests player of all time.
That’s a really touching interview. Thanks for the effort with the translation. Everything he says is so true. I must confess that I to knew very little about him. He seems like such a nice and genuine guy. I wish him the best of luck with whatever he chooses to do in life and am sure he will live a happy life with that kind of attitude. If he chooses to drop in and play a few SOSPA games I’ll surely be rooting for him.
Maybe living in a team house for years working towards a common goal is a really formative experience. My father always tells me about how we should reinstitute the draft, not because it's useful, but for character building. These progamers may be 3-4 years behind on getting an education and such, but they're probably 'wise for their age' and such.
So sad players can not enjoy SC2, but I do not blame them. It is difficult to play a game you do not like and are not doing well in. Most of the remaining ex-BW players are just in it for the money, but if that does not work out for them, they will just quit, as they do not even have passion for the game to continue as a pro. How he says that no one is taking responsibility, I feel that Blizzard is the only one at fault. Players are not to blame for a game that is not fun (on top of the desolate audience).
I hate how SC2 makes players miserable at doing what they do.
good article, thanks for translation! Interesting to see s2's non-progamer side and how he was kind/put friends first which is something that makes it easy to relate to him. Wishing him the best of luck!
On September 28 2013 06:54 Grumbels wrote: Maybe living in a team house for years working towards a common goal is a really formative experience. My father always tells me about how we should reinstitute the draft, not because it's useful, but for character building. These progamers may be 3-4 years behind on getting an education and such, but they're probably 'wise for their age' and such.
When you think about it, compulsory military service, while initially seen as a burden, can be seen in the long run as a benefit for Korean players. Because you spend most of your life in a team house with little to no education, the military is a great way of establishing life and social skills over relatively short period of time.
RIP s2, you had an inspiring run as an SKT Zerg Nice article, although alittle overdramatic at points given the subject matter it's all good though.
On September 28 2013 08:10 GTR wrote: When you think about it, compulsory military service, while initially seen as a burden, can be seen in the long run as a benefit for Korean players. Because you spend most of your life in a team house with little to no education, the military is a great way of establishing life and social skills over relatively short period of time.
I like this perspective, I really wonder how the players transition after retirement. Army is useful in this case as a buffer back to, in a sense, normalcy.
"The match-fixing scandal was the most difficult time for me. E-sports was caught in a storm, and recovering would necessarily take a long time. Even now it is hard to bear. That event cut down the e-sports industry and even continues to influence many of the current problems today. The match-fixing scandal, which made all progamers worried for the future was my most difficult moment."
Yeah made me sad too Great interview. Hope he is doing fine in the future.
On September 28 2013 12:22 BreakerD wrote: How can people not remember this guy. This guy was fire in Winners League Championship and almost AK KT. Thats all you need to know and remember.
Agreed, he cleaned up in that final! his ZvZ in particular was very strong
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ePMmZ20.jpg)
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I remember when i followed BW I could rely on the 3 main SKT zergs and you were my fav 
