EPT![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Lee_Jae-gyun_from_acrofan.jpg/225px-Lee_Jae-gyun_from_acrofan.jpg)
Source: inven.co.kr
http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=65050&vtype=pc
Title: Coach Lee, Jae Kyun: After recruiting, we will participate in Proleague. We will do our best in the given condition.
Below are the full interview.
Q. It's been two weeks since the waiver news. How have you been?
A. We are contacting teams for the players on waiver. Things are on progress, so it's hard to tell details. On the other hand, we are rebuilding the team along Soulkey and SOS.
We still have players, so we are going to participate in Proleauge. We have not received any information including agenda for next Proleague season from Kespa yet, so we will inform when it comes out.
Q. Fans are worried, and think Woonnjin is, in fact, going to disband.
A. We are not disbanding, player on waiver had been on waiver because there were disagreement on new contracts, so to give them new opportunities.
Q. How's the team house going?
A. We have three players, Soulkey, SoS, and a rookie player. We are planning to recruit 4 or 5 more players who can play on Proleague right now.
Q. Participating in PL with replaced players?
A. Our front office have decided to part in. With new players, we will do our best.
Q. STX also had difficulties, and they disbanded, and other teams are decreasing their sizes too. What do you think is the basic cause of this?
A. STX had to disband because of the mother company. Teams are decreasing the sizes because the popularity of Starcraft 2 in Korea has decreased.
However, to see the whole esport scene, it's developing as LOL is getting popular.
Q. What will be the solution for these problems?
A. It may be a controversial comment, but Blizzard's action is disappointing. Without making the basis firm and stable, they focused on business parts too much, and the popularity have decreased.
Esports started with fans, so if they do not care about this, it won't change in future either.
Q. There are fans who do not know you well. Can you tell how you made team SM in 1999?
A. The team was formed for the strong players at the moment to fight against strong players. HOTforever(KT coach), Garimto(First Starleague royal roader, and 2 times champion.) were in it.
It was 1999 when we left Busan and came Seoul, and started the real actions.
HOTforever was not our member at first, but he we persuaded him to enter after the team kept losing and losing to him. We also met Garimto at the period, and had him join.
Q. Hanbit Stars (former Woongjin Stars) were formed at 2001. How was it made?
A. I visited companies for 2 months to find investors. Mean while, my friend recommended Hanbit Soft, and the team was formed. Most companies wanted a short term sponsorship, so I wanted as long as possible one. The president of Hanbit Soft told us "We will support as long as possible if you guys do well", and we decided to make a contract.
Q. Hanbit, at the moment, had a lot of players along Reach, HOTforever, Garimto, Silent_control, Blaze, and Junwi.
A. Reach joined the team as other players recommended him, saying " He will develop a lot if he joins". At the moment, he was a heavy team play player, not really playing much 1 vs. 1. He has been exiled from the team house playing only team play games. After that he focused on 1 vs 1., and he became a great player.
Blaze and Junwi were recruited after I saw their plays on Battle.net. Silent_control was in team KOR, and traded with Cloud.
It's funny that Cloud and Silent_control became the franchise stars of each team later.
Q. Any remember-able episodes?
A. Ofcourse the winning of Proleague. Also, some conflicts with players. My players were quite freewheeling, and sometimes I had to be forceful.
Later on, players told me that now they understand why I did so.
Q. The golden age of Brood War, 2004-2008, Hanbit had a image of a poor team.
A. When Hanbit Stars were created, it was before the enter of major companies, so we offered the greatest deals to players. We couldn't demand the bigger support because we knew the financial status of the company.
It was hard to convince players because they didn't really know well the status of the company. In this condition, we were really happy to meet Woongjin.
Q. How was the second foundation as Woonjin Stars made?
A. We; I, Kespa, and some reporters, tried to find sponsors, and the outcome was not great. Meanwhile, the Kespa president at the moment asked Woonjin group, and they looked it through optimistically.
Q. Now, when most players have left, even if you part in PL, the result may hardly be good. Isn't there any frustration?
A. At worst, the participation itself has some effect, so we are preparing for it. After recruiting, we will be able to.
There is no frustration about the future result. Everyone will have done their best, and even if the outcome is bad, it's a result of everyone's best.
Q. What will be your next step?
A. We are ready to work at the lowest position of the scene. I ceased SNS or interviews because they could have led some misunderstandings, but now I will restart.
I watched LOL even before Korean launch, so have some attention. It's good that the game has developed so popular in Korea. I am recently playing Hearthstone hard. It also has a lot of potentials to grow as an esport. Also thinking a lot for development of Starcraft 2 scene which is the biggest worry.
Q. Any last words?
A. The team is untidy, so I feel sad for it. I wish it to end in the best possible way. Please love esports, and love Woonjin also!
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someone please change the title
