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Original Source: http://www.fomos.kr/
Kor-Chinese translator:萬豐網/mashimaroo1
1.Your 3 most frequently visited websites?
A: Fomos and DES, then pgr.
2. Do you stop by Fomos often? If so, what content do you focus on?
A: Mostly player interviews and related game news.
3. What do you do when there are no matches and you have free time?
A: Clean the house, wash clothes? Mostly chores, I guess.
4. What do you prioritize when choosing your SPL lineup?
A: The most important question is whether or not to write by hand or by foot, apparently I've been writing mostly by foot recently, haha. [T/N: to write with your foot means sending out a bad lineup]
Um, from a professional standpoint, this is a strategical question and thus quite sensitive... so unfortunately I can't respond in detail. To be a bit coy about it though, it's pretty much as most fans imagine it, considering the special aspects of each teamand map influence, player condition, and some other information that is confidential
5.This may be a sensitive question as well, but what are your thoughts on Jangbi and Great's "space" incident? [T/N: I'm assuming this is referring to the messages they posted before that aroused a minor ruckus]
A: Speaking as head coach, the fact that my players' remarks online were the center of such attention makes me ashamed.
Of course, as players closely watched by fans, this is not something you should be doing, but as far as the "Great incident" is concerned, the whole thing blew up, and honestly that shook me up a bit. The players are reflecting upon themselves as well, so please don't criticize them too harshly, and forgive them. I'll manage them better from now on, to keep such occurrences from happening again. I apologize.
6.What would you be doing now if you weren't a head coach?
A: Probably just working a normal job like my friends, haha.
7. Who is the best head coach of all time, and why? (yourself excluded)
A: All the previous head coaches and the current ones are all excellent. As I observe them, I see many aspects that I must learn, and thy all have their own styles, it's hard to pick someone out in particular.
8.How did you meet your husband?
A: Someone introduced us.
9. What role do you believe a head coach should play?
A: Hm... this is a difficult question. To put it simply, it's to manage the team, but honestly in the current Esports world there's no real clear job description for a head coach. I keep asking myself what else I could be doing, or what things a head coach should or should not do. I've always been working hard to become the ideal head coach - that's my calling (?), haha.
10. As things are now, what team would you like to coach if you weren't coaching Samsung, and why?
A: I'd like to manage Air Force ACE. After all, I've never been in the military before, so their professional team gives me a different impression, and I'd like to experience the practice environment and atmosphere there. Of course, I can say this so nonchalantly precisely because I've never been in the military, so I apologize in advance to those who have served.
11. The regular season of the SPL is drawing to a close - what are your goals?
A: Of course, it's to win the championship, haha. Sadly, we aren't doing so well in the standings, but we'll do our best in the remaining matches.
Questions from FOMOS netizens
1. The first time I saw Head Coach January was in the Finals of 2005!!! First of all, though you're a female, you're the most senior coach, right?... after becoming coach, you once said that your happiest moment was the Incruit OSL championship - then what was your saddest moment? Also, I'd like to know more about the 2007, 2008 SPL final matches.
A: Time tends to turn even the saddest things into good learning experiences and memories. I have a pretty optimistic personality and I can forget about hardships fairly quickly, moving on to other things. I can't really remember any time that was particularly difficult for me, I'm happy to be doing what I love. The 07, 08 matches were indeed nice memories, and though we're not performing as well, things are more interesting now, and it's good to have objectives to focus on in the present.
2. As a coach, you must care a lot for the players. Are there any particular players you'd like to bring into Samsung?? Please choose one from each race, and give your reasoning, haha.
A: Given that I keep hypnotizing myself to believe that my own team's players are the strongest... I'll just choose from a purely aesthetic point of view.
Zerg: Jaedong's death stare is hot. Also, the fancomics of him online give me an even better impression.
Terran: Baby is just too cute
Protoss: In real life Jaehoon doesn't seem to stand out much, but it seems that recently on TV, he's been seeming more manly and handsome, haha. It's better than reality.
3. Hello, I'm a KHAN fan! Sometimes I feel like your lineups are absolutely amazing,sometimes they're a bit depressing. Jangbi's in a slump rigth now but you retain much faith in him and keep sending him out! Why do you keep sending Jangbi? (no disrespect intended) I want to know if it's because of your trust in him, or is it that you're trying to break him out of his slump?
A: As lineups are a strategical question, I'll have to respond carefully.
It's not *entirely* as fans imagine it, sometimes intrateam circumstances affect lineups, and whenever that happens I submit the lineups holding back my tears, haha.
Every pro team lineup is affected by the coach or player's style, and so all lineups have their own interesting aspects, and I have my on philosophy about it. My own BS philosophy [T/N: that's the closest translation I can think of] is that slump or not, starting continuously is ultimately always good for the players.
4. Who's the rookie with most potential in Samsung?
A: Reality.
5. You're the first (and so far only) female coach, so when you first started, you must have been viewed differently. Regarding this, what difficulties did you encounter?
A: Well, I've answered this type of question many times in other interviews. It wasn't really so much my gender but rather my lack of understanding regarding coaching that gave me some difficulty in the past. I don't feel as if I was treated particularly better or worse because I'm female, and I try not to dwell on such things too much. I keep wanting to be called a "head coach" and not a "female head coach", and I work hard for the sake of working hard. [T/N: this is particularly irksome in some East Asian languages, where they almost always add "female" to the front of some professions as if it's odd - Female police officer, Female professor, etc.]
Q: Also, though a coach, you're still a female, so I guess there are some players that don't take you seriously, so in all your experiences, who gave you the mosttrouble?
A: As head coach, I've encountered many *many* players, and they left me with good memories. Of course, I can't honestly say there weren't players that refused to listen, but I'm sure that from their perspective, they have their reasons. I'm sure I'm not necessarily the best coach for all players.
6.Who has left the strongest impression on you (for better or for worse) in your coaching career?
A: Um... I have a pretty good impression of most players so it's hard to pick one out, um... Anyppi.WeRRa? [T/N: thx GTR] We shared a meal together a few days ago, and perhaps it just happened that I've seen him more often recently, but anyway he leaves an impression on me.
7. I really want to know what criteria you use for picking training partners. It doesn't necessarily have to be Samsung's criteria.
A: It's not any different from other teams - we'll regularly have the amateurs or semi-pros play in a match, and after some evaluation, pick players out from them. As for my personal criteria, I feel fundamentals are key. Even if you're strong now, with weak fundamentals, your development will be limited. Also, I don't judge players by their faces!! I feel like because our players are fairly good-looking that some rumors have been floating around... it's hard for me to understand, haha.
Actually, when I myself was a player, I encountered some discrimination because of my looks so I make it a rule not to consider their looks when considering players. It's true that we have some good-looking players on the team [T/N: SBG! SBG!], but... when I picked them, they didn't look like that, haha. Also, if I actually was a coach that chose players based on looks, there would be several players that shouldn't be on our team, haha.
8. I heard you were once a player too - do you still play sometimes even after becoming a coach?? If so, how strong of a player do you think you are, I'm very curious, haha!
A: Honestly, my "SC by hand" skills left me a long time ago, and I've been using my "SC by mouth" skills for a while, but I've been trying to restrain myself recently. We have many players on our team who are experts at "SC by mouth" [T/N: I imagine this would be somewhat akin to theorycrafting or having a good understanding of the game]... that said, sometimes, just to shake things up, I join open games on B.net just for fun, and reminisce on some great memories.
9. What were your feelings when Samsung won the 2007 and 2008 leagues, and the last match of the Incruit OSL??
A: Actually,during the SPL, I felt as if we were destined to win the championship, so the entire process was fairly relaxing.
However, on the day of Stork's final, I kept fretting and worrying. I felt as if for Stork, that would be a crucial moment in his professional career so there was a lot of pressure. I was nervous throughout the entire match, and I couldn't sit still in my seat, and kept striding back and forth behind the stage. In Game 5, as Stork's army took down Fantasy's expo... that scene is still clear in my head as if it happened yesterday. It was really exciting, and moved me to tears, like "this is truly living"?
10. How has your life changed with marriage?
A: As a coach, not much has changed. As far as normal life... pretty much like that of any other person who has gotten married?
11. Regarding Stork and Fantasy's rematch. Many of us Samsung fans were quite disappointed by that Final. We heard that one of the possible reasons for Stork's losses was poor management? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this take on it.
A: That's a sharp question. Indeed, when it comes to unleashing a player's full potential, it's the responsibility of the coaching team. In this regard, I feel rather apologetic towards Stork. I'm reflecting bitterly upon overconfidence, seeing these results. I also feel bad about not being able to put on a better show for Stork's passionate fans. We're doing our best to get another chance at this kind of thing in the future. At any rate, please keep cheering Stork on!
13. What players on the team haven't showed off their full potential yet?
A: There are many players who haven't started in the SPL yet. Most of the training partners show a lot of talent, and work hard. Personally, all of these players have a chance at making it big. Though this may be a bit greedy, I'd like our team to become one where all 15 players are Aces, haha.
14. FBH and M18M, who are doing well in ACE right now, were originally Samsung players - seeing their good performance, do you think, "Dang, we should have held on to them longer"?
A: No, not really (um, if they see this it might be quite a blow, haha). Honestly, I feel that ACE's practice environment can bring out their skill more effectively, and that's why they've been doing well. Perhaps it's because of th ACE coach's style of coaching?
15.Recently there have been online comics circulating about Jangbi, and the "King of Losing" - what are your thoughts on those?
A: That's what they call him in the dorms too - we see it as the fans caring, so the team and the players accept this kind of thing happily, haha. We can laugh at this kind o stuff, but if responses are personal attacks against the family or person life rather than what happens in game, that gets old quickly. I hope that as people leave comments, they can think of the players and their families who will be reading them.
16. Are you still in contact with the veterans who played for Khan in the past? (ex: SaferZerg) I'm quite curious about how they're doing.
A: We keep in touch with former players often. Some are doing military service, some are working hard in school, many are in the job market. They occasionally come o the dorms to hang out, and it always feels different, seeing them, and I hope they can do their best in their own realms, haha. I probably shouldn't say anything to detailed about who is doing what, since the have their own personal lives, and new goals. Please just cheer them on in your hearts.
17. I've heard that the team atmosphere is really good, and active. Has this given you some problems or stress, when they get to rambunctious?
A: I actually like a lively environment. Though I don't really nag them, after a while, "SC experts by mouth" players increase... and then I step in, haha.
18. What are Coach DoGGi and Coach 유지강[T/N: can't figure out the latter person]'s roles on the tea?
A: They function like pillars. Of course, they pretty much do the same thing that coaches on other teams do, focusing on team and player management during games. If put that way, it seems like I don't do anything, haha. We'll do our best.
19.As the only female coach, who are you most familiar with on other teams? You know, the awkward kinds...
A: I'm pretty close with most of the coaches, I think. I guess I'm a *little* bit closer with the more senior coaches. Also, since the head coaches contact each other often,getting together for a meal isn't an odd occurrence either. In addition, though this is a little bit off topic, a few years ago, I was the most junior of all the coaches, but now I'm a senior, and that makes me happy, haha.
Additional Yes/No questions
1.Do you watch dramas often?
No
2.Do you prefer the Winner's League format?
No
3.Do you like athletic shoes over heels?
Yes
4. Do you like the Samsung team dog more than the players?
Yes
5.Do appearances play a role in selecting players?
No
Questions from commentator Shark, who was featured in "30 questions, 30 answers" previously:
Q: Coach Kim Ga Eul!! I feel as if you're quite a capable wife... you've been getting more and more beautiful... is married life bringing you happiness?????? I'm quite curious about how your life's going, haha.
A: Haha, thanks for your compliments regarding my appearance, Shark. My married life probably isn't that different from everyone else's - if you're curious give it a shot yourself, haha.
- The next star of the 30 Questions 30 Answers interview will be FireBatHero, please ask him a question!
Q: Sometimes, seeing how well you're doing in ACE, I feel as if you're well suited for the military - why don't you consider staying in ACE as a coach or something? Also, next time you stop by the dorm, bring some munchies, don't always come empty handed, haha.
『Thanks to Coach January for honestly responding to the questions』
Source: Wfbrood
[T/N: FUCK THIS WAS LONG. Hope you guys like it, I found a lot of her answers quite interesting]