SPOILERS for GSL Ro32 Group G matches are in this interview!
aLive, "I want to resolve this issue"
Though I acknowledge my faults, the article that was released was regrettable
aLive, "I want to resolve this issue"
Though I acknowledge my faults, the article that was released was regrettable
aLive (now teamless) successfully advanced to the Round of 16 of Code S.
On the 18th, aLive got 2nd place in Hot6ix GSL Season 1's Code S Round of 32 in Group G. After defeating Brown in his first match, aLive lost to MarineKing in the winners match but was able to defeat Happy in the final match to qualify for the Round of 16.
How do you feel on making it to the Ro16 for CodeS?
Making it to the Ro16 is especially meaningful this time. Though this situation is difficult (t/n: TSL drama), because luck was on my side I was able to advance. I’m hoping that if my results are good, the outpour of negative attention I’m getting right now will change for the better.
You’re currently teamless. Was it particularly difficult in preparing for the matches today?
Saying that practice was hard would just be an excuse. But realistically speaking, it wasn’t easy. I did a lot of mental preparation for the games today. I played about 5 games on ladder per day, and additionally had some practice with other players I know.
Today an article related to your former team was released. What are your thoughts on that article?
It’s true that I acted incorrectly in the beginning. I definitely acknowledged it and Coach Lee also said he would understand. But he said he must definitely receive compensation. I contacted him on Sunday and he said he had told the reporters he had received the transfer fee and things had ended well and to not worry. That’s as far as I knew, but when I saw the article today on the day of my matches, I was really taken aback (t/n: referring to this). I think he was just saying through words that he understood, but didn’t mean it.
What exactly are the things that you think you did wrong?
The talks about a double contract is an exaggeration. I am not under contract yet. Last Sunday, I received an offer from a hyung that works as a Fnatic translator that said that they wanted me. I said I wanted to talk to the Fnatic manager on Monday, and I talked about more details with the translator hyung. After that, Coach Lee said he wanted to talk to me. He had printed out my conversation with the Fnatic manager. That skype conversation was logged on my computer, and I’m curious as to how he got access to it. But still, I knew that I had fault in this so I acknowledged those parts and I asked for his understanding and apologized.
What are the specific parts that you think you did wrong?
Getting in touch with Fnatic without first talking to Coach Lee was my wrongdoing. In terms of moving teams, my original plan was to leave TSL first, then in my teamless state join Fnatic. But Coach Lee found out earlier than I planned and was upset. So I acknowledged my fault to Coach Lee and I was ready to bear whatever came afterward. From the past, many TSL players have left, and at the time we did have contracts but they were just for show. Before PuMa hyung’s situation, there were no contracts. Coach Lee also said when Clide and JYP hyung left that if I was still unhappy, I could leave too. I was going to leave at that time but because of personal issues, I said I would stay in the team a bit longer, but just physically, not as an active teammate. I thought that Coach Lee had accepted it at the time but I guess that wasn’t the case.
So you’re saying that by the time you talked to the Fnatic manager, you had already made up your mind to leave?
When SangHo and Clide hyung left, JYP hyung and I also said we were going to leave. I thought it wouldn’t be good to stay any longer so I wanted to leave, and I also had a good offer.
How long was your contract with TSL supposed to last?
Until July of this year.
Despite that, what is the reason that you felt you needed to leave the team?
Other teammates left, and my image of the team was also not great. There was also a selfish aspect. I thought that the longer I stayed in TSL, it wouldn’t be of benefit to me. That’s why I made the decisive statement that I would leave the team.
But still, a contract requires mutual agreement from both sides. Was that part of the argument never discussed?
I found out Coach Lee went and talked to Fnatic first. Because he found out before I meant to tell him, I didn’t have a chance to talk about that. Before that, I had told Coach Lee that there was something I wanted to talk to him about. In that aspect, it’s true that I am at fault. I didn’t follow through with what the contract asked. I was being young and thoughtless. If people say that I was blinded by money, I wouldn’t be able to say otherwise.
Because this is still concerns a contract, talks of a fee of breach of contract can’t be avoided. Is there a clause concerning this in the contract?
There is. I think that’s why he means to get the penalty fee from me. I was under the idea that an article talking about how he would receive a transfer fee would be released, and even if I paid a penalty fee, he said let’s make sure we release positive articles about each other. But upon reading the article that was released today that talked about penalty fees and double contracts, I was really baffled.
Even then, it seems that you've currently left the team without permission. If you do have to pay a penalty fee, how much would that sum be?
I believe it is around 10,000,000 won.
Did Fnatic say they would pay for that penalty fee?
I’m not exactly sure but I believe they said they would announce the penalty fee as the transfer fee.
How are your contract talks with Fnatic going?
No matter how this situation progresses, it needs to end first before I can get a contract. That’s what I personally believe. We have made fair progress in discussions though.
A contract is still a contract though.
It’s because I didn’t think it was good to stay even after thinking about it a lot that I decided to leave. Even if I have to use my own money I said I would pay the fee for breach of contract. I was going to take care of it with my own money as well as the money Fnatic offered. But I was so surprised when talks of a double contract exploded first.
Let us know clearly what your plans are now.
Worst comes to worst, just as Coach Lee said in his article, I am thinking about taking this to the law. But if possible, I want to end this on as much of a good note as possible. Unfortunately the situation has already worsened so much. I just want to pay the penalty fee and get it over with.
Isn’t there a possibility that Fnatic won’t pick you up?
There is that chance. However, Fnatic was also a big part of this situation. I really hope it doesn’t pan out that way. It’s because I was sure Fnatic was going to take me as a player that I am enduring this situation right now.
Fnatic is a foreign team. Don’t you think there can be some issues with an interpretor working in the middle?
Of course I’ve thought of that. It’s also because of money that I left. However, even if that’s the case it can’t be helped. I’ll have to deal with it.
Is there anything else you want to say about this situation?
I definitely acknowledge that there were things I did wrong. However, the content of the article that was released today was really baffling. But still, I don’t want to end things on a bad note. I hope the fans won’t criticize me too harshly because of this. I hope they can look at me more favorably. Though my wrongdoing snowballed into this situation, I hope the fans can think about the perspectives of players and coaches as well.
Did you have time to think about your goals for this season/this year?
I didn’t really have time. This season, just like last season I want to be able to make it to the Ro8 quarterfinals. The most important thing right now is this current ordeal. I want to have it resolved as soon as possible. The group selections take place the day after tomorrow but before that I want to focus on this matter so it can be resolved first.
Source: Thisisgame