EPT
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/10/1326156288_779.jpg)
Hello everybody, this is STX Soul's progamer Tossgirl.
I am so glad to connect with my fans in an interview like this. In 2012, I want to reach out to my fans more, so I have planned a lot of events like interviews and such. Of course, I have also been practicing hard so I can connect with my fans through playing on live matches. Whether it be through my games or other activities, I hope to bring my fans a lot of content this year, so please look out for me.
For the next three months, I want to bring my fans news regarding progamers and other members of the e-sports community through a small corner that I've prepared called 'The people Tossgirl has met.' Not only will I shed some light on hard to reach progamers, but also the hidden workers behind the e-sports scene, and this has already gotten me excited.
The first person I met with was Jaedong of Team8. He has recently recorded 400 wins in official matches, making him the winning-est player of all time. Due to his popularity and his shy personality, I was nervous even before meeting him. However, he tried his best to not make it awkward, even though it was our first time meeting, and I felt thankful.
Let's listen to what JD has to say, shall we?
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/10/1326156049_575.jpg)
JD and TG :3
◆TG and JD's history
TG=Hello, I am so glad to meet you; we never had a chance to meet like this.
JD=It's an honor to meet you. It's my first time seeing the goddess of e-sports in the flesh (laughs). After hearing that you were going to interview me, I carefully thought over what we should talk about. One poor choice of words, and I will be the public enemy of all male fans of e-sports (laughs).
TG=It was a big commitment to create a corner with my own name in it, so I had a hard time choosing the first player to meet. At first I wanted to look for a popular player whom I had been acquainted to, but then I chose to go for somebody I didn't know at all, and you came to mind. How is Team8 treating you?
JD=It was a shame that we never had a chance to become acquainted, but now that we have finally met it feels great. Team8 is great. It is our job to perform under any sort of conditions as long as we can practice. I have been doing my best and Team8 has been great (laughs).
But we aren't complete strangers. Before I debuted, when I was a practice partner, we played a game; don't you remember?
TG=Of course I remember. I thought you would be the one who wouldn't remember (laughs).
JD=I still can't forget that game. When I heard you were my opponent, I became extra nervous. You were much much better than I expected so I had to play with gritted teeth and I think that's why I still remember it like it was yesterday (laughs). After the game was over, people made fun of me saying 'you played like your life depended on it' (laughs).
TG=I have actually played games against all of Taek-Bang-Lee-Ssang when you guys were all practice partners. I could tell that the four of you would become big, even as practice partners. You guys were so good! I was in awe thinking 'how can a zerg play so well [against terran]'. After practice coach asked me 'can't you get him to join our team?' I remember thinking you were a player with a lot of potential.
JD=You embarrass me (laughs). I played my hardest because I thought I couldn't lose that game. I performed at 120% that day (laughs).
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/10/1326156185_840.jpg)
In the last e-sports awards ceremony, JD and
Kal were chosen to be the hosts. They gave everybody at the event a good laugh with their awkward demeanor and speeches.TG=At the last e-sports awards ceremony, Kal's and your superb(?) performance became a hot issue for a while. I was there and I had a good time too (laughs).
JD=Please forget that that ever happened (laughs). Kal had just entered the military so he was still very formal and respectful, so I started talking like him. Of course the whole situation was kinda awkward too (laughs).
TG=I think I can understand. I was chosen to be a hostess at an awards ceremony and the whole proceeding made me wanna cringe and hurl [anybody have a better phrase that fits 손발이 오그라들다? lol] I was reading the script during rehearsal and I was seriously questioning whether I would be able to say the things there with a straight face. Did you feel that way? (laughs).
JD=The parts where we had to say all those good things about each player, and receive their responses, they were so painful. On top of that, I was one of the nominees. For the future, I wanna ask the staff of the e-sports awards ceremony: please don't pick one of the nominees as a host. I felt very uncomfortable being up there. Please don't do that to another guy.
◆JD's new beginning at Team8
TG=Recently as Hwaseung Oz disbanded, you were picked up by Team8, and I am curious how it has been. As another progamer, I was worried for you.
JD=I believe progamers are professionals that will perform under any circumstance. It is my responsibility to be satisfied with the fact that I can still do this for a living and give it my all.
TG=That is so mature of you. Still, it must have been hard to go through an ordeal like that; how did you cope with it?
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/10/1326156258_044.jpg)
JD=I think that would be the hardest time of my progaming career. It was that hard. I was parted from my teammates with whom I had shared so many good and bad moments, and some of them were unable to continue progaming as a career, so it was a bad time all around. I felt so emotional watching them. August was like a month-long nightmare. I had a really hard time when I went 0-3 during the ProLeague finals against SKTelecom T1, but that was nothing compared to August.
TG=It really must have been. I can only imagine how hard it must have been from what you said.
JD=They threw away their teen years chasing their dreams, but they were denied the opportunity even before they could blossom. I felt bad because I came out at the other end relatively unscathed.
TG=It seems that you have adjusted to Team8's environment pretty well, though.
JD=I have. I always try to find pleasure in the tasks I have been assigned. I am happy right now.
TG=If you had to pick one person whose personality in-house is most different from what other teammates had imagined it to be, who would it be?
JD=I think all of our team would pick me (laughs). And I agree with it (laughs). I am shy around strangers and use my words sparingly, so a lot of people have an image of a serious, anti-social Jaedong. But once you get to know me, I talk a lot, with a dialect [think redneck] at that, and I often swear (laughs). My teammates who had been expecting Jaedong the dominator now treat me like a kid who lives next door (laughs). I have recently been trying my best to cut myself some slack and not take everything so seriously.
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/10/1326156750_627.jpg)
◆It is lonely at the top
TG=Sitting on the throne for years is not an easy thing to do. How do you do it?
JD=I lost that throne recently (laughs). I don't think I'm qualified to answer that question (laughs).
TG=Still, if you asked people who the best zerg is, I think a lot of people would name you.
JD=I don't have a secret; I just practice and live like everybody else. I guess I put a lot of thought into self-improvement. I do everything that I can so I can focus during practice. I felt that a sound body was important to withstanding long hours of practice, so I started working out and eating healthy, on top of positive thinking. Most importantly, I continued these things without quitting. Thinking back, I never let up on those things, not even for a moment.
TG=That is impressive indeed. It is human nature to become complacent and narcissistic when you reach the top, but JD you seem to defy that.
JD=It's a little embarrassing that you say that. In my opinion, I have lost the rookie mindset a bit. Something has definitely changed from the times when I could just focus on practicing and be happy with that.
However I have been trying my hardest to get back to that mindset. I don't think it's possible for anybody to maintain that mindset indefinitely. However, I will continue to try to go back to that rookie mindset.
TG=Personally, I feel you have the most professional mindset out of the gamers I know. When you were a practice partner, I heard you were the first one in the practice room and the last one out. Even now, after having reached the top, you continue to do that and I think that is enough to lead your juniors by example. Overall, results aside, I think you are the best player.
JD=I hope you're not just saying that because I'm sitting right here (laughs). I am thankful that you think that way. I will do my best to maintain that kind of evaluation. Now I'm afraid to disappoint you (laughs).
TG=If you continue to lead the younger generation by being a living example, I have no doubt you will always be a big contribution to e-sports.
JD=I will do my best to be remembered as a good player, a moral player, and the best player.
To be continued in part 2... [ARGH]
Source: Nate Sports
* Thanks for finding the article Harem! I feel that JD has recently become very socially apt: the first interviews I translated were very serious and strictly business, but in this one I saw a lot of popular phrases used by Korean college students and just a more gregarious attitude overall. Happy to see there was a social side to him under those glaring eyes :3 He's around the same age as I; I feel we would have been good friends if we went to school together.
Part2: 
ToSsGirL | 
Jaedong's dreamgirl "From Lee Yeon Hee to Seo Hyun over the years"
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776774_712.jpg)
JD: Big dreams as a progamer but bigger ones yet as a father
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776802_837.jpg)
ToSsGirL | Jaedong's dreamgirl "From Lee Yeon Hee to Seo Hyun over the years"JD: Big dreams as a progamer but bigger ones yet as a father
Hello everybody, this is Tossgirl of STX Soul.
In Part 1, I focused on my relation with Jaedong, his recent whereabouts and his mindset as one of the best players. He gave insightful answers to even some of the harder questions without difficulty, showing us what it truly means to be a 'professional.' Even though I'm a senior to JD, that's something I think I can always learn from him.
After much of the awkwardness subsided, I was able to delve into the more private parts of his life. We started talking about his ideal girl, and then asked about the truth to some of the rumors that have circulated the esports scene. In this interview, we get to discover JD's new girl(?) so please enjoy.
We will jump right into part 2 which shows a more honest and bolder JD than in part 1.
◆JD's new girl?
TG=A lot of progamers and esports fans call Lee Yeon Hee 'JD's girl.' What is the story behind this?
JD=A long time ago I name Lee Yeon Hee as my ideal girl, and Coach Cho's wife Ahn Yeon Hong showed footage of Lee Yeon Hee cheering me on, so that's how it got started. Then, one of my teammates blasted that I was a member of the Lee Yeon Hee fan cafe, so word spread like wildfire.
TG=Is she still your ideal girl?
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776829_847.jpg)
JD=I still love(?) her (laughs). However now that I have aged I can't deny that my interest in her has dwindled. It's impractical to long after somebody you never get to see, and I've been wanting a girl that is close by and able to take care of me (laughs). I feel like this is going to be a continuing trend going into next year.
TG=Then I'm assuming you don't have a favorite girl group.
JD=They all seem the same to me. And now, when I look at celebrities, I respect them for what they do rather than lusting after them. They probably had other aspirations too but gave it all up and were probably forced to do a lot of things they didn't want to. If my younger sibling wanted to enter the celebrity world, I would stop him/her at all costs. Watching girl group members deprived of food and sometimes sleep makes me feel bad for them.
TG=I think this calls for an IGL (Ideal Girl League). We will exclude Lee Yeon Hee for now.
JD=You really prepared for this interview (laughs). To be honest, I always wanted to be asked something like this (laughs). [Lots of celebrities do it on talk shows]
TG=Let's start from the Ro8. Shin Min Ah and Kim Tae Hee [Jesus this is like the finals right here]
![[image loading]](http://thestar.chosun.com/site/data/img_dir/2009/08/03/2009080301140_0.jpg)
vs JD=I choose Shin Min Ah. I like girls who are elegant and graceful (laughs).
TG=How about between MissA's Sooji and Min? [This is like
Grape vs Modesty in the Ro8 -_-] ![[image loading]](http://image.donga.com/pictorial/uData/201010/101021_missa/sadfasdf.jpg)
JD=Sooji. I prefer girls who look innocent over girls who look sexy or cute.
TG=How about Yoonah vs Seo Hyun from SNSD? This must be difficult.
![[image loading]](http://bbs.joinsmsn.com/app/files/attach/images/162305/180/377/%EC%84%9C%ED%98%841.jpg)
JD=It's actually really easy. I choose Seo Hyun.
TG=The last match of the Ro8 will be IU vs Yoori! If you go for innocence I can see IU crushing. [
Bisu vs Spear]JD=You're absolutely right (laughs). I choose IU.
TG=Alright Ro4 now. How about Shin Min Ah vs SooJi?
JD=Shin Min Ah. She seems much more mature.
TG=Seo Hyun vs IU!
JD=I choose Seo Hyun for the same reason (laughs). [o_0]
TG=This is the finals. Who is the winner of the Jaedong IGL, Shin Min Ah or Seo Hyun?
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776864_218.jpg)
JD=(Without hesitation) Seo Hyun. This is actually the first time I've said this in public, but I've been watching her with keen interest for a while now. She seems very upright and hard-working, a rarity in the idol world. I like girls like that. I will keep an eye on her. Lately I have been realizing that what's inside trumps what is outside every time.
TG=So Seo Hyun will now be the new 'JD's girl' (laughs).
JD=Is that how it works (laughs). SNSD's Seo Hyun, I will always keep an eye on you (laughs).
TG=It's not easy to have a girlfriend as a progamer, is it?
JD=Of course not. I'm sure you know just as well as I do. First of all there is barely any free time so I can't plan anything special for her. Your love grows proportionately to how much time you spend together, but in order to succeed as a progamer, you cannot afford to invest time in a girlfriend. I am sad that I never experienced true love. However I am loved by a lot of my fans so I believe it is something I must live with.
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776892_614.jpg)
TG=I feel like it's been a few years since I last dated someone too (laughs). Since a lot of people know me now, it is hard to date around freely and not that many people understand the constraints that come with the progaming life. I think I have similar concerns to you, JD.
JD=Honestly, you can't expect a girl to be all understanding and receptive of a guy who cannot be next to her at all. Unless I meet a girl that is even busier than I am (laughs). I think my wanting to meet a mature girl stems from that partially. In order for her to understand my situation, I think somebody who is more mature and has a lot of life experience would be better than somebody who is younger.
TG=Recently I've been worried I wouldn't even be able to marry (laughs).
JD=With you looks I would imagine guys would line up to meet you. You don't have to worry (laughs).
TG=First of all I don't even get that many chances to meet guys and even when I did, I realized there weren't a lot of guys who were understanding of the fact that I put in the same amount of time and effort into gaming as our male teammates.
JD=If guys are like that, imagine how girls would be (laughs). I think it's amazing that some progamers can have a girlfriend and still perform well.
TG=I feel that it is very important for the other person to be understanding and patient in order to date a progamer. I have not yet met someone like that.
JD=I always thought it would become easier to find someone like that as I aged, but I guess not. This is making me depressed! I really want to date someone but I haven't been able to meet someone so understanding and it kills me. I want to find the right girl and settle down.
TG=Someone like Seo Hyun (laughs)?
JD=It doesn't have to be her (laughs). If she is understanding and an upright person, that is already good enough for me (laughs).
TG=And if she had Seo Hyun's looks?
JD=She would be my princess and I would be her servant (laughs).
![[image loading]](http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/ia/2012/01/17/1326776921_985.jpg)
[What a god-awful picture of the two....]
◆
Flash, the greatest rivalTG=I think it's impossible to talk about the life of Lee Jaedong without mentioning Flash. It's been a rivalry that has drawn many fans' attention.
JD=I also feel weird if I don't talk about Flash at least once in an interview (laughs). He is no longer just a rival to me; he is my progaming career's companion.
TG=Even though you are very close to him, it must have been very upsetting to lose to him in the finals on the individual leagues many times in a row.
JD=Of course. It was so painful. It wasn't that I was upset, but I felt sorry for my fans who cheered for me so hard. It kills me to see my fans with their heads down and crying when Flash's fans are sitting their like they own the show. You don't know how it feels when you cause so many people to be miserable for the sole reason that they are your fans unless you've been there.
I really want to unleash the beast within again and make my fans proud to be my fans. I am still confident. Everybody says 'Jaedong is no longer a threat to Flash' but I just need one fan to believe in me for me to keep on challenging his throne. I'm not just saying this, but if we were to meet again in the finals, I am confident that I will crush him. I hope my fans can have faith in me.
TG=I heard you offrace with Flash often.
JD=I'm pretty good at beating zergs as terran (laughs). A while ago in an allstar event match, I was offracing against
Fantasy who chose zerg, and everybody kept telling me that his zerg was beastly. I was confident in my terran, but I pretended like I was scared. After I won the game I felt like I had shown everybody my terran skills and felt good (laughs). We often swapped races and offraced, and I beat him almost every game until 2009. But then after that I almost never played terran while Flash kept practicing his zerg. I don't offrace against him anymore after I got demolished by his zerg last year (laughs). I am afraid I will keep losing (laughs). Terran has so much to do in the mid and late game that it becomes very demanding.
TG=Terran is still imba (laughs). Personally I believe zerg players are amazing. Zerg has pretty much no strategic variety when it comes to early game. You either go for the very risky 4pool or go standard and it's not easy to gain an advantage over your opponent going into mid-game like that. In that sense I feel you are a great player. If you had been terran I feel you would have never lost to anybody.
JD=You think too highly of me (laughs). Zerg is a difficult race but I believe terran has its own difficulties as well. Personally I don't think there is a player who became good solely because of his race. After you reach a certain level of skill, I believe the game really is balanced and you win based on skill. In that sense, I would say Flash is the greatest player at the moment.
◆Jaedong's dream
TG=Our time together is almost over. I would love to continue talking but regretfully you must go back to practice.
JD=I actually thought this would be more of a double interview, where I get to ask you a bunch of questions too, but it is regretful that I did all the talking. If there were more time, I will have liked to interview you and bombard you with questions (laughs).
TG=Unfortunately there is not much time left. Now I am really glad that our time is up (laughs). For this last part, please tell your fans about your dreams.
JD=It's a secret (laughs). I'm just kidding. A long time ago, somebody asked me what I would do with a million dollars. I didn't know what to say back then but now I think I can answer that question. I would like to buy my parents a house with a nice view. Then, I would like to buy a house for my future wife and me (laughs). My dreams aren't grandiose and magnificent; I have a lot of aspirations for my progaming career, but if I look at the big picture, my ultimate goal is to have a loving family and live happily ever after. I am just doing my best to achieve that dream at each and every given moment.
TG=Thank you for agreeing to interview with me today. Any last words to your fans?
JD=I am really glad that TG decided to burden(?) me with this interview (laughs). I hope to not disappoint you guys in the future. Please watch over me and cheer for me. Thank you.
Source: Nate Sports
