A bonjwa is a guy who dominates the scene for a long enough period of time to not be a flash-in-the-pan (though if Flash gets in a giant pan for some reason, that doesn't de-bonjwa him). There's no official determination, it's just basically community consensus.

I remember a period where Jaedong was kind of vaguely a Maybe Bonjwa (with him an Flash vying for it), but the eventual determination was "no".

Were Jaedong and Flash to both dominate everyone but each other, neither would be a Bonjwa. This was happening for a while, and Flash pulled ahead right around the time I got into Starcraft.

Though, I have a pet theory that all five Bonjwas are actually the same person, and Boxer just regenerated into Nada, Doctor Who style.

Black[CAT]

Malaysia2589 Posts

May 30 2011 12:56 GMT

#22

Why does it seems that Flash is always doubted as a 본좌? Flash cant be controversial as bonjwa.
Look at his achievements and domination last year. Does it looks easy? He is a certified bonjwa.
To me, a person is called bonjwa when commentators and fans says his bonjwa and the player has a aura of dominance and achievements to back it up.
Boxer, Nada, Oov, Savior and Flash has it. Jaedong has it as well, though, he dont seem so invincible like Flash.

c3rberUs

Japan11286 Posts

May 30 2011 12:57 GMT

#23

On May 30 2011 20:42 endy wrote:
Only sAviOr is the real bonjwa. Others were "called" bonjwa retrospectively.

I concur. Even after the match fixing scandal, the influence and respect he had, emphasis on had, is undeniable. The match fixing for me is a different story.

Harmonious

179 Posts

May 30 2011 12:58 GMT

#24

On May 30 2011 20:53 Gooey wrote:
Controversial that BoxeR is considered a bonjwa!?! Girl you crazy.

He is SlayerS_Boxer, the Emperor. Any bonjwa takes second place.

Gooey

United States944 Posts

May 30 2011 13:18 GMT

#25

On May 30 2011 21:58 Harmonious wrote:

Show nested quote +

He is SlayerS_Boxer, the Emperor. Any bonjwa takes second place.

Oh absolutely. Can't touch the Emperor. Bonjwa, Schmonjwa

alypse

2784 Posts

May 30 2011 13:20 GMT

#26

Determined largely by the Korean community... and maybe partly by commentators. When Flash defeated Jaedong at the end of Korea Air OSL 2, the commentators claimed that he is the bonjwa of this era.

jpak

United States5045 Posts

May 30 2011 13:24 GMT

#27

When someone is bonjwa... you'll know. You'll know in your heart, no matter how much you hate that player, that that player is bonjwa.

For me, no matter how much I hate Flash (okay, not as much as bisu, but Movie

) I know that I watched him become bonjwa in 2010.

mdb

Bulgaria4059 Posts

May 30 2011 13:36 GMT

#28

Savoir was the first to be called bonjwa, but oov and nada had the same status, only werent called "bonjwa".

As to what determines who is bonjwa or not, to me its more a feeling rather than some stats and titles. And yeah, only boxer, nada, oov and savoir had that feeling around them.

gen.Sun

United States539 Posts

May 30 2011 14:29 GMT

#29

Korean commentators obviously

Slardar

Canada7596 Posts

May 30 2011 14:32 GMT

#30

Another one of these threads? Save us Evil T ^^

SimonB

United States1088 Posts

May 30 2011 14:37 GMT

#31

On May 30 2011 20:42 endy wrote:
Only sAviOr is the real bonjwa. Others were "called" bonjwa retrospectively.

And yet, he is the weakest of all of them, including at least 1 person who isn't called a bonjwa.

antilyon

Brazil2546 Posts

May 30 2011 14:44 GMT

#32

On May 30 2011 21:56 Black[CAT] wrote:
Why does it seems that Flash is always doubted as a 본좌? Flash cant be controversial as bonjwa.
Look at his achievements and domination last year. Does it looks easy? He is a certified bonjwa.
To me, a person is called bonjwa when commentators and fans says his bonjwa and the player has a aura of dominance and achievements to back it up.
Boxer, Nada, Oov, Savior and Flash has it. Jaedong has it as well, though, he dont seem so invincible like Flash.

The only ehing that keeps flash away from bonjwa status for some people is Bisu and Jaedong.If they weren't around, i'm pretty sure flash would be nominated a undisputed Bonjwa a long time ago.

SimonB

United States1088 Posts

May 30 2011 14:47 GMT

#33

I don't care about the Bonjwa title if Savior defined it. Flash has already completely obliterated Savior's career accomplishments in every way. He, along with Nada, Oov, and Jaedong are well ahead of Savior at this point.

If Savior is Bonjwa, they're beyond, and significantly so.

FuRong

New Zealand3089 Posts

May 30 2011 14:47 GMT

#34

On May 30 2011 22:20 alypse wrote:
Determined largely by the Korean community... and maybe partly by commentators. When Flash defeated Jaedong at the end of Korea Air OSL 2, the commentators claimed that he is the bonjwa of this era.

Don't forget that he also won WCG, that kind of cemented things after the dual Starleague win.

Brad`

Canada548 Posts

May 30 2011 14:56 GMT

#35

On May 30 2011 23:37 SimonB wrote:

Show nested quote +

And yet, he is the weakest of all of them, including at least 1 person who isn't called a bonjwa.

Lmfao ya I imagine Boxer, Nada and Oov thought the same thing while MJY was raping them.

Antoine

United States7481 Posts

May 30 2011 14:56 GMT

#36

i am the decisionator.

Legatus Lanius

2135 Posts

May 30 2011 14:58 GMT

#37

On May 30 2011 23:47 SimonB wrote:
I don't care about the Bonjwa title if Savior defined it. Flash has already completely obliterated Savior's career accomplishments in every way. He, along with Nada, Oov, and Jaedong are well ahead of Savior at this point.

If Savior is Bonjwa, they're beyond, and significantly so.

savior won consistent titles at a time when zerg werent doing so great, and he did it against top class zerg killers on very hard zerg maps. alot of what happens in zerg play nowadays came from savior

flash is an awesome player, but please dont shit on the greatness that was savior because hes done alot of impressive things, and he will always be the only bonjwa for me

SilverSkyLark

Philippines8437 Posts

May 30 2011 14:58 GMT

#38

Oh noes, let's not throw the B word all over the place or else this thread will get closed without any meaningful discussion. ><

Well, for me, a bonjwa is someone who is just dominating left and right. The term was first coined for Savior and then the others (Boxer, Oov, NaDa) were just called bonjwa's in retrospect.

FlaShFTW

United States10499 Posts

May 30 2011 15:08 GMT

#39

Boxer: He practically was the founder of SC:BW in Korea. He's the grandaddy of them all.

iloveoov: Let's face it, he's pretty much there. He was unrivaled until sAviOr came along and crushed his TvZ builds.

NaDa: Don't even question this one. 3 OSL? 3 MSL? Not a bonjwa? I'll eat my own heart.

sAviOr: Again, don't even question this one. So what if he only won 1 OSL? He was UNSTOPPABLE. The arrogance he showed. The shape that he left his victims in the mud... Yes the cheating scandal in its own right lost him many fans... However, that was later in his career, not in his prime.

FlaSh: Really? 3 OSL? 2 MSL (soon to be 3 after he roflstomps Hydra AND ZerO). This guy has been to so many finals.

Jaedong: He's getting there. But his winnings have been over a period of time. Think about it. He first won in 2007... then the next year won again... then next year won a couple more... yeah, you could say he is bonjwa in 2009, yet, i think the Nate MSL controversy really put a hole in his resume there. Had he won "fair and square", probs a bonjwa. But so far, hes in a slump.

Lightwip

United States5497 Posts

May 30 2011 15:20 GMT

#40

Savior definitely did way more than Flash. You may say Savior had less titles, but he was consistently unbeatable on the most ridiculous of maps. All of Flash's MSL wins had a few nice maps(Odd Eye hi) helping him out. Flash, on the other hand, complained about Bloody Ridge being impossible. Savior certainly looked more invincible during his time.
I certainly do have my reasons for questioning Flash's bonjwa status, but Savior was more impressive whether or not he is.