• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 02:10
CEST 08:10
KST 15:10
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915
Community News
Weekly Cups (Sep 7-12): SHIN, ByuN, MaxPax double down1StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon98Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10Official StarCraft website teases new content ahead of BlizzCon?179Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20)9
StarCraft 2
General
How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Weekly Cups (Sep 7-12): SHIN, ByuN, MaxPax double down Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16)
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22 SC2 AI Tournament 2026 Fall Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament KSL Week #92
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 542 The Ascended Mutation # 541 Binary Choice
Brood War
General
ASL22 General Discussion Syncronization issues and can't find games [ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro16 Group D [ASL22] Ro16 Group C KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Game Theory for Starcraft
Other Games
General Games
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation Diablo IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Post Your Watch!
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Virtual Romance, Real-Life C…
TrAiDoS
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Dreaming of BW patches (mod…
c3rberUs
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 4586 users

Ssamjang's life after StarCraft (via JoongangIlbo) - Page 2

Forum Index > BW General
33 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 2 All
ruypture
Profile Joined May 2014
United States367 Posts
February 16 2017 04:40 GMT
#21
On February 16 2017 13:23 Devolved wrote:
Wow, who would of thought? Playing video games for a living as a young adult does not set you up for a high paying career later on in life. Never would have guessed.


A bland basic education into college into a drone like entry into the workforce isnt for everyone.

The fact that he even had a year to live modestly off of progaming is amazing. One year being able to do whatever you love and be paid modest means is accomplishing a dream really
어윤수|이신형|이재동|이승형
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17743 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-16 05:04:03
February 16 2017 05:00 GMT
#22
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.
ils
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
BigFan
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
TLADT24920 Posts
February 16 2017 05:10 GMT
#23
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.
Former BW EiC"Watch Bakemonogatari or I will kill you." -Toad, April 18th, 2017
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17743 Posts
February 16 2017 05:37 GMT
#24
On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.

From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.
ils
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
outscar
Profile Joined September 2014
2832 Posts
February 16 2017 06:14 GMT
#25
Oo wasn't Ssamjang one of the first successful progamers before BoxeR/Garimto era? I even remember that BoxeR used him as very first role model's for himself. I like this kind of articles, taking me so much back (even if I didn't know pro scene exist that time).
sunbeams are never made like me...
MrMischelito
Profile Joined February 2014
347 Posts
February 16 2017 07:00 GMT
#26
very interesting. thank you for posting this. I believe some of this is true for almost all kinds of professional sports/athletics. a good program would (and does) feature sort of education parallel to the time as an active player. it exists in Germany for example for Olympic disciplines. however I can see, that a (classic) physical sport leaves generally more room for intelectual studies than an intellectual demanding but less physical profession like gaming. is there a way to find better balance? (Think of Polt...)
GTR
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
51692 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-16 07:10:17
February 16 2017 07:10 GMT
#27
On February 16 2017 14:37 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.

From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.


yeah especially since he didn't have a family to support or anything, that's really good for a korean person at that time
Commentator
MrMischelito
Profile Joined February 2014
347 Posts
February 16 2017 08:33 GMT
#28
On February 16 2017 10:21 HaFnium wrote:
this is way before my time....

but this is a good read...

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/19226-gundam-and-ssamjang-leave-hexatron

Also am watching some of his VODs.....
BW looks so young and innocent at that time...


It feels like time travel :D
darthfoley
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States8004 Posts
February 16 2017 19:19 GMT
#29
This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement
watch the wall collide with my fist, mostly over problems that i know i should fix
sabas123
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands3122 Posts
February 16 2017 20:03 GMT
#30
On February 17 2017 04:19 darthfoley wrote:
This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement

I don't know if I remember this correctly or not, but didn't kespa made some statements on wanting to help with this?
The harder it becomes, the more you should focus on the basics.
WhosQuany
Profile Joined June 2013
Germany257 Posts
February 16 2017 21:11 GMT
#31
Good read ty.
Goin back to Cali
fishjie
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States1519 Posts
February 16 2017 23:43 GMT
#32
that was an incredibly sad story, and 44k is not a lot of money, at least not in the US during 2003-4. especially if your career advancement options afterward are zilch.
PVJ
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
Hungary5221 Posts
February 18 2017 12:11 GMT
#33
Good post, thank you.
The heart's eternal vow
Lockdown-
Profile Joined May 2003
United States298 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-18 17:44:14
February 18 2017 17:43 GMT
#34
Thanks for posting this. I remember watching his play fondly as a high schooler. Would peruse the VODS. This was a trip down memory lane.
Prev 1 2 All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 4h 50m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ProTech144
StarCraft: Brood War
Shuttle 2586
Rain 1428
GuemChi 1157
NaDa 44
Aegong 41
Noble 21
Icarus 11
Britney 0
League of Legends
JimRising 666
Other Games
summit1g10465
WinterStarcraft479
Mew2King311
Happy256
XaKoH 238
PiGStarcraft207
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick756
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH240
• Letter146
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2152
League of Legends
• Rush1170
• Lourlo1115
• Stunt392
Upcoming Events
IntoTheTV X SOOP
4h 50m
Cure vs SHIN
herO vs Solar
Percival vs Classic
ByuN vs Rogue
OSC
15h 50m
Replay Cast
17h 50m
IntoTheTV X SOOP
1d 4h
Replay Cast
1d 17h
GSL
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
GSL
3 days
Shopify Rebellion Sundays
3 days
Spirit vs Mixu
Replay Cast
3 days
[ Show More ]
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
Shine vs Rush
WardiTV Weekly
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
Light vs EffOrt
PiGosaur Cup
5 days
Kung Fu Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #5 - TRS
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Calamity Invitational
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSA
Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
SC4ALL II: Brood War
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Copium Cup
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.