TheMarine: "I will continue to commentate after my discharge."
"I am confident that I will return back to form after 2 years of absence."
"I am confident that I will return back to form after 2 years of absence."
OnGameNet's commentator, TheMarine, a player-turned-commentator who is much loved by everyone, has suddenly revealed that he will be enlisting himself into the army and will have a short moment to say farewell to his fans.
TheMarine made his debut in 2000, in the Hanaro-Tooniverse League, and with solid play, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with BoxeR and iloveoov, being called 'The Pioneers of Terran'.
He ended up being a commentator on OnGameNet, starting from the SKY Proleague 2006, on the 24th of April, 2006.
TheMarine will be enlisting himself in the Chungchong Jeongpyung 37th Division's training academy in the following 26th of May 2009, and on the following game between SKT1 and KTF on the 23rd of May, he will be doing his last commentary before his enlistment and will have a short farewell session with his fans.
The following is the interview with TheMarine.
- Your announcement to go into the army was too sudden.
▲ My enlistment isn't sudden. I did my own preparations for the enlistment, but the official warrant came much faster than I thought. I wanted to do the commentary in the Grand Finals (of Proleague), but the circumstances wouldn't allow it, and I do not wish to postpone my enlistment any further. I made this decision because I believe I have stacked a lot of experience as a commentator.
- You could have postponed your enlistment...
▲ It turned into a situation where it wasn't easy for me to postpone it any further. I think the greatest factor would be my age. My initial goal as I started off as a commentator was to be active for at least 2 years before enlisting myself into the army, but in a blink of an eye, 3 years had passed. Compared to when I first made my debut, I think I have gotten successful, and since I have met my target, I thought to myself that I must not postpone my enlistment any further. I think that completing my military duties will allow me to work with my mind at ease.
- It must be such a pity that you have to leave halfway through the season.
▲ I am very sad about that. But it's not as though I can adjust the age period for army enlistment, and I felt that if I don't go now, I might never know when I will have to go in the future. Changing your enlistment is impossible on your own. I think my age is the greatest factor, and before it is too late, I want to get it over with and focus on my job when I return, and I also want to take this enlistment as an opportunity for me to re-energize myself.
- You were rated to be a very successful player-turned-commentator, and many players have followed suit.
▲ There was Rookie before me, but I am thankful towards everyone who names me as the role model for player-turned-commentators.
We may be working in different places, but there are many people who are doing their job well, and it's good to see that everyone is putting in their best in what they are doing, wherever they may be.
- Your most memorable match that you have done a commentary on?
▲ I said this in a former Fomos interview, but it is the SKY Proleague 2006 Grand Finals between SKTelecom T1 and MBCGame, held on January, 2007.
Game content-wise, they were excellent, and although the number of audience who were on-site may not have been as many as other occasions, their response and enthusiasm was the greatest. The players performed their best, and e-sports fans responded with overwhelming support. Progamers, the media and e-sports fans made that day a great celebration.
Other than that, I can also remember the Grand Finals held on July, 2006. During the match, it rained so much that people's make-ups went into their eyes, but they continued to cheer with overwhelming enthusiasm, and that remains in my memory.
- Your most disappointing period as a commentator?
▲ It will be now. I want to continue working as a commentator but I can't. Realistically, everyone will have to stop their lives at some point of time for this wall called 'conscription' (t/l note: metaphoric imagery here). I am also disappointed that I can't finish what I started. I wanted to do the commentary right until the Grand Finals, but I can't. I used to spend 5 days a week on Proleague commentary, almost as though I was living in Yongsan (OGN stadium), but now I can't do that anymore.
- Your sudden announcement is also a great shock to your fans.
▲ Actually I wasn't ready too, and I suddenly received the official warrant in early May, so I was in a mess. But work piled up. Including commentaries, I had work scheduled for even until tomorrow, so I could only rest on Sundays and Mondays, and had no chance to think through things.
Also, I wanted to tell my fans earlier, but I couldn't due to certain circumstances. I am very sorry towards my fans for not telling them earlier.
- You will be enlisting for active duty in the army.
▲ I am not physically strong, so I made up my mind to take this opportunity to make myself healthier and build up my strength, which will be through active army duties. I will be enlisting myself with great determination, and I want to take this opportunity to learn the mindset and the strength of a soldier. If I had enlisted myself at a younger age, I might not have been a proper commentator, but now, since I am enlisting myself at a later age, I am not worried or afraid of the enlistment.
- Final words for your fans please.
▲ I will definitely return to be a commentator once I have finished my military duties. Whether I will commentate the Starcraft league or the Starcraft 2 league is yet to be known, but I am confident in returning to my former self after two years of absence from commentating. I hope I can meet all my fans when I end my duties. In 2 years' time, I will return as a commentator who will be doing even better than now.
Updated with pics!
Even Jeung So-rim caster was crying.. T__T
Even Jeung So-rim caster was crying.. T__T
Source: Fomos.kr
THEMARINE... I WILL MISS YOU ;____________;
Feedback and corrections welcome... T___T