[Resolved] Kespa, GOM, ESF dispute

For our previous GSL Season 3 Code A qualifiers, we had inquired to KeSPA if their players would be allowed to participate and at the time, as scheduling was very difficult, KeSPA was not able to accommodate us. We also felt that many teams and players were still unprepared and concluded that we would request participation for the upcoming GSL Season 4.

Today, we have received an official response from KeSPA, stating that their players will, once again, not participate in the GSL Season 4 Code A qualifiers.

We are deeply sorry to all fans who have looked forward to seeing the Korean eSports scene work together in harmony.
Also, GOMTV would like to express their regret towards KeSPA’s reluctance to participate.

TL summary:
Basically ESF is pulling their players out of the Auction All-Kill OS2L following KeSPA's refusal to let their players partake in GSL4 qualifiers. This is kind of a big deal, because it means OGN is going to be screaming at KeSPA to clear up this shit - they've got a league starting on tuesday that is gonna be down 8 star players in their Ro16 if this isn't resolved quickly.

First of all, on behalf of E-sports federation, we are truly sad about what happened to KT's Woo Jeong Ho. We are truly sad to deliver this news around this time.

Yesterday, we received a statement from Kespa that the players will not participate in GSL season. This was a shocking and disappointing news to us. We want to express our apology on the breach in partnership between Kespa and Esports Federation and on Kespa's decisions. GOMTV devoted great amount of effort to succesfully globalize Korean E-sports ever since the release of Starcraft II 2 years ago.

Thanks to this, "E-sports Federation" was assembled to work side-by-side with GOMTV in the hope to carry Korean E-sports a step forward. Considering the days of "GOMTV Classic", the decision by Kespa to not participate in GSL is not a simple issue and we are afraid that it might recur in the future considering the situation. GOMTV provided Kespa players with various accommodations regarding the schedule and application process and yet the decision by Kespa seems to spoil the partnership between E-sports Federation and Kespa.

One of the reasons that Kespa will not participate in GSL was that there is a conflict in scheduling of the players. This is pretty hard to accept as GOMTV was able to accommodate many schedule conflicts without any problem for the past 2 years and this was also the case for Kespa players who participated in WCS and WCG. E-Sports Federation does not want GSL to be removed from Korean E-sports and if it does, the effect of E-sports Federation players to the global E-sports will decrease for certain.

We think that it is mandatory for Kespa to work with us and show great games to our viewers. As such, we have contacted teams of E-sports Federation (Startale, LG-IM, Prime, MVP, NSH, TSL, FXO) regarding the players who are participating in OSL (Nestea, MVP, DRG, MKP, Parting, San) to make the following decision: For the better future of Korean E-sports, we politely ask Kespa players to participate in GSL and until Kespa decides to allow their players to join GSL without any problem, we have decided to pull our players from OSL.

It is also difficult for us to make such harsh decisions but we think it is necessary to appeal the dignity of GOMTV and E-sports Federation. Once again, we are truly apologetic regarding such news and we hope that Kespa would cooperate so that we can show amazing games to all of you.

Thanks
E-sports Federation Player representative Jae Deok "Nestea" IM
E-sports Federation President Won Jong Wook

On Aug. 24, KeSPA released a statement that they will participate the next GSL after GSL Season 4. In order to prevent another fallout of leagues as eSports Federation made a statement to boycott OSL, all teams in KeSPA decided to participate the next GSL tournament that will happen after GSL Season 4.

Translation by Nostalgia.NA

The eSports Federation has stated that their stance to defer participating in the OSL has not changed.

On the 25th, President Won Jong-Wook visited the Mok-Dong GomTV Studio, where the WCS South Korea Nationals were held, and stated, "There is no change in our stance that we have announced in our public statement deferring our participation in the OnGameNet Star League".

The Korean eSports Players Association(henceforth KeSPA) told GomTV on the 23rd that they will not be participating in the GSL. Then on the 24th, they announced through the media that given the already confirmed tournament schedules including the Pro League Post Season, it would be hard to participate in the GSL.

On the 24th, the eSports Federation expressed their disappointment in KeSPA's decision to not participate in the GSL and released a public statement saying that they will defer participating in the OnGameNet Star League until GSL participation is confirmed.

5 hours later, KeSPA announced that they have decided to join starting from GSL5.
[Note: This part of the article said they said they will join GSL 'starting from' GSL5, but the KeSPA article it links to simply says that KeSPA has decided to participate in the GSL tournament(singular) after GSL4, then explains that they will participate in GSL5(again, nothing on the GSLs after that)]

On the matter of KeSPA's change in their stance, President Won Jong-Wook stated, "We thank them for their speedy discussion and decision to participate in GSL5. But the eSports Federation's stance stated on our public statement has not changed. We have stated that we will be deferring participation in the OnGameNet Star League until KeSPA decides to participate in the GSL in a continuous manner, and because there is no change in content in KeSPA's follow-up announcement from their previous accouncement, there is no change in the eSports Federation's stance."

President Won Jong-Wook also revealed his opinion on some concerns raised by some about the deferring of participation in the OnGameNet Star League causing the league to be crippled. President Won Jong-Wook stated, "I have given enough thoughts on the matter before we announced our public statement. That is why the decision was made after sufficient discussions with the coaches of the teams in the eSports Federations as well as the players. KeSPA not participating in GSL4 is the source of the problem, so solving that comes first."

To do this, eSports Federation has officially requested to GomTV to adjust the schedule related to GSL4 qualifiers. President Won Jong-Wook stated, "Today(25th) we have requested that GomTV extends the GSL4 qualifiers application deadline so that the KeSPA players would be able to participate in GSL4." The GSL4 qualfiers application started on the 24th and the reception of the applications are scheduled to stop on Monday(27th).

Lastly, President Won Jong-Wook stated, "eSports Federation still holds deep in its heart the meaning of the 'Public Proclamation on Starcraft 2 eSports vision' that was held in May. We hope to quickly solve this problem to live alongside KeSPA, develop through well-intended competition with KeSPA, and repay the fans with even better games."

TL summary:
This is a response by the eSports Federation(hereafter ESF) to KeSPA's recent decision to join GSL5.

To put it short:
1. ESF is saying they thank and welcome KeSPA's quick response and their deicision to join GSL5.
2. But their decision on not playing their players in the OSL until KeSPA decides to join the GSL still stands.
3. The reason is that KeSPA has still not changed their stance on allowing their players in the GSL in a continuous fashion. (KeSPA is saying they'll join GSL5, nothing on GSLs afterwards nor the imminent GSL4).
4. ESF has made a request to Gomtv to extend the deadline for GSL4 qualifiers applications, which was set to end on the 27th of August.

http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?id=1275322&category=13438
Kespa has decided that it's players will join in the GSL 4 qualifiers. The GSL qualifiers have been moved to Sept. 12.

http://kr.battle.net/sc2/ko/blog/2188781
Good news! Kespa will join the upcoming GSL 4 in an intense competition, and ESF are participating in the Auction All-kill OSL. Blizzard, GOM, ESF, and Kespa, are working together to give fans the best content possible!