On 15 November 2013, at the GStar convention in Busan, the reporter met the long-awaited Jaedong. They chatted about the WCS Global Finals which just took place and had a good chat.
It's been a long time since you've came back to Korea. How are you feeling now?
I managed to meet many fans at Korea's largest gaming convention, GStar 2013. Of course, even though it was just an invitational tournament, I'm very happy to be able to play in a local tournament. It's been such a long time since I've done that. I've felt this same atmosphere at the gaming convention many times before when I was overseas, but it's still an unfamiliar feeling in Korea. It feels very interesting (laughs).
At the Global Finals, your popularity was over the top. What are your thoughts about this?
It was almost scary at the scene itself. Even though it's a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but the popularity was really high. The cheers of glory which the fans gave to me allowed me to taste the taste of gaming.
What are the pros and cons of living and being active overseas, as compared to living and being active locally?
Firstly, I've had a long time in this professional career, and so already have the ability to control myself. I am very suited to life in a foreign team.
There is more freedom in everything in a foreign team, and so I have to create the results that I want myself. It's different just on this point alone, and I am very satisfied with it. Even though I don't know why, the feelings that foreign fans have for me have already passed the peak, and it's at a level where it's like they love me, and it makes me feel really blessed.
No matter what, it must be very tiring travelling in and out of the country, isn't it?
This is definitely the case. It's very tiring physically, as well as psychologically. Even though the people around me are envious that I frequently can travel overseas, but it's like I'd spend 1-2 weeks overseas, and then come back to Korea for 1 week, before going overseas again. Going to and fro like that I totally have no life of my own.
There are many difficulties which outsiders do not understand. But if we overlook this bad point, I still really enjoy what I'm doing now, and I feel very blessed to be able to meet fans who are overseas. There're so many more good points than bad points, and so I'm really blessed now.
There are many players who play pretty well, but just can't produce results. You've came in as runner up again at this Global Finals, what are your thoughts?
It's almost like a lie. I've come in as runner up again, and everything I say now seems like an excuse. To be able to come in second in such a tournament, I even feel tempted to praise myself. But thinking it through, it still seems like such a pity, but I've always been very optimistic. I don't want to be too pessimistic as that would make me so tired. However, the results are what they are, and the local fans have said many nasty things about this, but if I take too much of it to heart, it would just make me stressed out wouldn't it? I don't really want to care too much about these.
The line-up that you faced was no joke. But you went through several tough opponents consecutively, and that made people think "Perhaps it's time for Jaedong to do it". It's really such a pity, isn't it?
The fact is that it was a pity, but that aside, the results are what they are. I want to put all these past events away from me. After all, there are many opportunities from here on, and I want to continue proving myself. I feel that this is the right way, I'll still carry a positive attitude in the future.
In your game against Dear, your burrowed roach play was really impressive. How did you think of such a strategy?
It wasn't my plan to play with such a strategy. It was an improvised move at that point in time. To counteract what my opponent was doing, that entertaining scene was produced, and based on the results, that move led to the victory, and so I'm really pleased with that. Because of that game, I felt once again the tremendous roar and cheers of the fans, and it became an unforgettable moment.
That event gathered together the strongest players from all over the world. Did you feel uneasy?
No, I didn't feel uneasy. Before taking part in the tournament, my main thought was to enjoy it, and that I wanted to win the tournament. Blizzcon was really a great event, and I'm already very happy to be part of it.
Ever since I first came into contact with StarCraft, I always had thoughts that it would be really glorious to be able to take the stage at an event like Blizzcon. I've fulfilled my dream, and I really enjoyed it, and everything was fresh and new. That was the attitude with which I went to the tournament. The enthusiastic cheering from the fans made my good mood continue on and on.
Which was the most dangerous moment at the Global Finals?
The most dangerous would have to be the games against Dear. The opponent was so strong, and he was so on-form at the moment, it was the toughest set of game. It almost felt like a lie that I was able to actually win it, and that became my happiest moment.
Up to now, there has basically been no one else who has been able to produce results consistently like you. What's your secret?
Regarding this, I can't really say I have any secrets I guess. I enjoy winning, and even till now, I still have that thirst for victory. I also have amazing passion, and that's why I am able to achieve results like this I think. Up till now, I still maintain all the habits that I picked up when I just became a pro-gamer. I guess that's why I am able to maintain results like this.
Quite a number of gamers from your generation have retired. Do you feel sad about this?
I don't really care about such things. A professional gaming career requires very strong individual ability. The amount of work you put in decides your results. Regarding the gamers from my generation who have retired, it just makes me reflect that time is indeed passing by. But aside from that, there's really nothing else. I just want to walk my own path, and so I don't really care about these.
There are many fans who have been cheering for you all this while. Do you have anything to say to them?
I'm really excited to be able to take part in this GStar activity. At Blizzcon, I actually wanted to try Heroes of the Storm, but didn't manage to because I was so busy. I probably won't be able to play it either at this GStar I guess. If I have the chance I want to try it out (laughs).
To be honest, I feel very sorry to the local fans, as I rarely have the chance to meet them like this. But I've put in even more effort when I'm overseas, and I will try my best to have entertaining performances on all the different stages.
Whether it be in the past or now, for a professional gamer, the most important thing is to produce results. I think that whether the activity is overseas or local is really less important. I hope my fans can understand that. I hope that they'll still continue cheering for me in the future.
JDs attitude is just straight awesome. The more i see from him outside the game the more i like him. He is really starting to be a shinning example of the mind set required to be a top level pro with consistant results.
Quite a number of gamers from your generation have retired. Do you feel sad about this?
I don't really care about such things. A professional gaming career requires very strong individual ability. The amount of work you put in decides your results. Regarding the gamers from my generation who have retired, it just makes me reflect that time is indeed passing by. But aside from that, there's really nothing else. I just want to walk my own path, and so I don't really care about these.
Great interview, it's a great time to cheer for Jaedong. He is still so motivated as has so much passion for the game, more than any other player that has been a pro for so long I think. I'm sure his attitude leads to a win soon. Hopefully he can relax a bit more in the offseason soon and gets the chance to compete in korea again soon, I'm really sad he won't play in Proleague. I wonder what his thoughts are about that, he still holds records I think.
I think his popularity stems from multiple things. You could look back at his career in BW, the fact there are a lot of zerg fans apparently (at least they're much louder compared to other fans), etc. One of the most prevalent factors at Blizzcon though was the caster bias. Something tells me Jaedong should be buying those guys a few drinks because they're all over him.
In either case, stay the course Jaedong. Don't care about what the people say and find the killer instinct again. In due time you will get over the hurdle. Just focus on yourself.
Great interview. Crazy how consistent he was this year even though he unfortunately never got that tournament win. Can't wait for him to do it and glad he's enjoying the game.
Unless I am mistaken he's been a top level zerg for what 6 years now as a professional gamer? Glad to see he's till one of those and can't wait for dreamhack.
On November 25 2013 01:50 tomastaz wrote: People like Bisu and Jangbi had to retire eventually. JD just had the strength to carry on, and that's why he's so good
Jangbi was actually really good though, would have been nice if he stuck around
Awesome interview! And this is why Jaedong will forever be my favorite progamer ever. Such a champion, regardless of his current state or results. So much respect for this man. Thanks for this :D
On November 25 2013 01:50 tomastaz wrote: People like Bisu and Jangbi had to retire eventually. JD just had the strength to carry on, and that's why he's so good
JangBi was really, really fucking good when he retired. I think he was the first player that I've seen able to fight zerg's SH, Corrupter, Infestor, Viper and mass static style, head on and win against it using perfect mechanics. And he did it against Soulkey to boot.
On November 25 2013 01:50 tomastaz wrote: People like Bisu and Jangbi had to retire eventually. JD just had the strength to carry on, and that's why he's so good
JangBi was really, really fucking good when he retired. I think he was the first player that I've seen able to fight zerg's SH, Corrupter, Infestor, Viper and mass static style, head on and win against it using perfect mechanics. And he did it against Soulkey to boot.
Man, I miss JangBi
Yeah his retirement actually surprised the hell out of me because he was doing good and was in code S still and everything then BAM he retired. I was shocked by that one.
Awesome JD interview. Really grown to respect him as a player even as I initially disliked him for stopping Fantasy's royal road attempt in BW (with a 4 pool on Return of the King....grrrrrr still a lil salty still).
Yeah. Remember in "2013 DreamHack Open: Stockholm" (the tournament he went to the semi-finals in) that the fans really cheered loud for him even without much caster bias.
Jaedong went against Gumiho and Artosis and Apollo both talked about how Gumiho is a strong player and Jaedong has little chance.
In that series, there wasn't much caster bias (just some history lessons but they didn't hype Jaedong to overtake Gumiho or anything) but there were still loud cheers for Jaedong. I even said it here that I was surprised. (I mention that because I didn't get much caster bias or anything for Jaedong that would seem to sway it to Jaedong that much. I was genuinely surprised for the loud cheers for Jaedong at that tournament.)
One of the reasons why there is much fan support for Jaedong is that he's a legend from BW that is still playing and doing well in SC2.
During the MLG KeSPA invitational (before the players actually switched to SC2), there were loud cheers all around for the players.
Not only that, he had four second places in the same year.
When you have that many second places in a row, there's a storyline in the making and fans want to see that player win.
For MKP (for example) was a huge fan favorite during late 2010 and early 2011 (and after 2010, MKP is one of the players Tastosis rarely hyped up back then). There was caster hype when he took out FruitDealer and (and to be fair, it also helped that his ID was Boxer back then too, making him stand out even more). Though even after he changed his ID and even after (starting with 2011) the caster hype (sometimes the opposite) stopped from Tastosis, he was still a huge fan favorite. Three second places in three GSLs. People wanted to see MKP win at least one tournament. There's a potential story in the making.
So when you have Jaedong who is not only a legend from BW but also someone with four second places in the same year, there would be probably be still as much hype even without any help from casters.
Jaedong... This guy is an idol. So easy to admire and look up to. Has been my favorite player since 2007. Hope to see you win a large tournament soon Jaedong.
I've only been into the esports scene for about a year but having watched this guy this year and read about his past glories + with the upbeat "for the fans" attitude I really hope he gets the championship win in sc2 that he deserves.
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