EPTWoah this is a tough one to translate. If anyone finds anything wrong with the translations feel free to correct. There're a few parts which might be kinda iffy, but I think the main gist of the interview is there.
Edit: If it matters to anyone, if I'm not wrong, this interview was uploaded to the Korean site 4 September, and the previous one was uploaded 31 August. In case you're looking at a timeframe of events of something 0.0
Translated from http://s.163.com/12/0924/15/8C67CU3100314D0E.html and http://s.163.com/12/0924/15/8C67CU3100314D0E_2.html
Original article at http://sports.news.nate.com/view/20120904n16999?mid=s1001&isq=6419
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/lEhnR.jpg)
The slump brought about by neck pains
Seo Yeon Ji: You are the player who have won the most number of GSLs, and you are titled "The King". May I know what's the secret behind staying at the top for such a long time?
[T/N: I think "The King" seems to be a suitable translation for his title? Basically he's name is "Jung Jong Hyun", but the title they gave him is "Jung Jong Wang", where "Wang" means "King". Not too sure about all the possible nuances or significance.]
Mvp: I've only won the championship four times. I have never thought that I was a legend, or the best player. To be honest, I think that amongst the players taking part in the GSL, my ability is of a lower rank.
Seo Yeon Ji: You've already won the championship four times. Aren't you being too modest?
Mvp: What modest, it's the truth. With how it is now, I'm really of a lower rank. Recently, I feel that my condition is really not good.
Seo Yeon Ji: You were recently eliminated from both OSL and WCG. Does that affect you?
Mvp: The fact is that my neck condition is really severe. Because of the pains in my spine, sometimes my arm will go numb (T/N: Like paralysis numb) too. My shoulders feel terrible. Sometimes, I can't even pick up the mouse.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/W4pvT.jpg)
Seo Yeon Ji: Isn't that really really serious?
Mvp: It is serious. For normal people, the neck has the shape of an inverted "C", that's normal. But mine is already in a "C" shape. If it continues the pain will become even worse.
Seo Yeon Ji: Then wouldn't it be better to go for surgical treatment as soon as possible?
Mvp: That's also a problem. As a professional gamer, it feels like there'll be a huge drop even if we just stop playing for a week. In addition, the competition now is even stronger. I'm unable to complete my treatment.
But what upsets me most in the midst of this are the fans who keep wondering about the legitimacy of the injury. I say that my condition isn't good, but yet I still manage to win sometimes, which leads to the fans thinking things like "Seems like he's not really that ill", or "Is he really sick?"
To be honest, I really hate making excuses for my losses. Recently, I'm losing frequently, and that's because I'm not good enough. That's why I say that my current ability only belongs in the lower ranks of GSL. I'm not finding excuses for my losses. My body condition is really not good, but it's always seen as an excuse or a lie. It really makes me sad.
Seo Yeon Ji: I suppose there are times when you don't even feel like practising because of the pain?
Mvp: There's no choice. I just have to cut down on my practice time. I need to constantly think of new strategies and builds, and test them through practice, but it is really tough to practise. My teeth would be clenched as I sit in front of the computer, but the pain would inevitably force me to stop. To be honest, if a professional gamer can't even go about practising properly, how can he improve? It's quite a miracle to even be able to maintain at a particular level.
Seo Yeon Ji: You need to get treated really soon. It's really so serious. I'm so worried.
Mvp: The people around me are all really worried about me. They keep suggesting to me to take a period of rest to focus on treating it. But it's just how it is.
Seo Yeon Ji: Injured players such as Flash have also had surgery, and also rested for a few months. Can't Mvp do the same?
Mvp: This isn't that easy a matter to settle. Firstly, we don't have an off-season. There is very little time to rest in between the GSL seasons. Also, global tournaments are constantly going on. In addition, Kespa players have joined in the scene recently, and that makes it all the harder. If I rest for three months and then come back, I might as well have retired.
Seo Yeon Ji: The profession of being a professional gamer is really so tough. Even if you're sick you are unable to get proper treatment of the condition. I'm so worried about what's going to happen to you in the future. But still, the fans will be hoping for the speedy recovery of Mvp.
Mvp: I haven't given up either. To be honest, if I had given up, I would have already stopped playing and concentrated on my treatment. But for now, there's still more I want to achieve. I can't just fall like that. I will try my best.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FXgpP.jpg)
The happiness of my family is my happiness
Seo Yeon Ji: What are you proudest of as a pro-gamer?
Mvp: When I was young, my family conditions were poor. And as I became a professional gamer, I was determined to succeed and buy a house for the family. But I wasn't able to fulfil that dream when I was in Woongjin.
Seo Yeon Ji: When you won GSL, you fulfilled your dream, and took the first step.
Mvp: I still remember it today. The house I was in last time was really small, and it was really inconvenient. But after winning GSL twice, I gathered enough money to buy a house. When I passed the money to my dad, I think my father said, "We can finally buy a house." My dad and I will never forget that moment. Even though I never said anything, I was happier than at any other time in my life.
Seo Yeon Ji: Looks like it was an opportunity well taken. If you had immediately retired after leaving Woongjin, then maybe you wouldn't have felt such a happiness.
Mvp: Yeah. And because of that, I've always been really grateful to my father, and also to Coach Kang Dong Hoon (IM Coach) and others who have led me on the way. They gave me, someone who had already chosen to quit, this opportunity. Perhaps, without these people by my side, I'd just be a player that nobody remembers.
Seo Yeon Ji: After becoming a professional gamer, you gave this gift of happiness to your family. Seems like you can be quite proud of yourself. Either way, as professional gamers reach a certain level, they are also able to bring happiness to their family.
Mvp: But, to be honest, I frequently think about myself not being suited to being a professional gamer. I didn't carry any stress before I started playing games. Strangely, after I became a professional gamer, I became more and more stressed, and at that point, I started suffering from poor health. I still frequently think about just quitting.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0ZtuI.jpg)
Seo Yeon Ji: When you were active in Woongjin, you seemed to discover that you are unable to overcome the stress. Is that better now?
Mvp: I guess I'm still unable to overcome the stress. Normally, my character is such that I don't really care about winning or losing. My main aim in doing anything is to find joy and happiness in whatever I do, and I got along quite happily. But I'm unable to do that as a professional gamer. If I don't care about winning or losing, how can I be a professional gamer?
Maybe that's the reason. To be honest, I'm really tired. How good would it be, if perhaps my personality was a little tougher, and I did not get stressed so easily. I have the kind of personality that isn't suited to being a professional gamer, and yet I still became a professional gamer.
Seo Yeon Ji: After winning the championship 4 times, I think you probably do have the calling to be a professional gamer.
Mvp: Yeah I guess (laughs). To be honest, I think that after winning 4 championships, it can't just be luck anymore. But till today, I still question myself about whether I'm meant to be a professional gamer. But the first problem now is that my physical condition is not good, and it'd be difficult to continue my professional career. This makes me really stressed, and quite agitated.
Seo Yeon Ji: Not long ago, Violet sadly passed away. Since you're both professional gamers, I suppose you were quite sad about it too?
Mvp: To be honest, even though our relationship was not too close, but being a professional gamer, my heart still really hurt. I also attended his funeral. I know that Violet had a really bright and outgoing personality. His death was really quite a shock to me.
Recently, I came to understand that health is the most important thing in this world, and seeing this incident with Violet, that really struck home. I sincerely hope that Violet will be happy in a better place.
Seo Yeon Ji: Seems like there're really a lot of tough things to go through. I wouldn't have noticed that there was such an arduous journey behind a player who smiles all the time.
Mvp: But it's exactly these difficulties that made me who I am now, and so now I feel that it's worthwhile, and I'm quite proud of it. What won't I be able to do in the future after all these.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ShXkX.jpg)
Seo Yeon Ji: What's the dream of Mvp?
Mvp: Firstly, my dream of buying a house is fulfilled. My life goal is to live a life I do not regret. No matter what choices I make, I will give it my best shot. That way, I won't have regrets in the future.
Right now, the goal is to regain my health. I need to regain my health quickly so I can do more stuff that I want to do. I also hope all the people who know me will remain healthy too.
Seo Yeon Ji: Hope you'd recover soon, and climb up to even higher heights than ever before. Hopefully "The King" will return soon.
Mvp: For all the people who support me, I will definitely try my hardest. Keep an eye out!
