There is a man and a woman that have been a focus in the e-sports scene currently. The one-top zerg player Jaedong and e-sport's entertainment icon Shin-Ae are those characters.
We held a date for them a few days before Christmas in a time square near Young Deung Po. Jaedong is technically a year younger since Shin-Ae has an early birthday, but since Hiya is a close mutual friend, they instantly started to talk as if they were friends.
After saying hi to each other, they moved to a cafe and began the date(?). The start was about their first impressions.
Fomos: Is this the first time you two are meeting separately?
Shin-Ae: Yes... We said hi before, but this is the first time meeting him like this.
Jaedong: You've been really active lately. I enjoy watching your shows~
Shin-Ae: Mm, which shows are you talking about?
Jaedong: "You're My App".
Shin-Ae: You mean 'I'm Your App"! You're only saying that because I told you about it just now... I'm on a lot of other shows, are you sure you're watching them?
Jaedong: I also watch "Staying Up With Shin-Ae". The most memorable moment is... you saying 'Hello, everyone~~'.
Shin-Ae: Haha, you're making me feel embarrassed. If you're watching them all the time, why don't you be a guest?
Jaedong: Uh.. that's... I've been wanting to do it!
Shin-Ae: That's strange. I talked to Coach Han last time, and he told me you weren't up for it even though he wanted you to be on the show...?
Jaedong: Ah, that's not true. I always wanted to be on the show, but my game schedules are packed and I get nervous on TV...
Shin-Ae: It's just a show. You just have to play games normally and talk a little...
Jaedong: I'll be on the show whenever I don't have games!
Shin-Ae: Really? I'll be waiting!
Jaedong: So is there a gamer in every episode?
Shin-Ae: Not every one... But if you want to, I can make it work starting tomorrow... The ultimate Jaedong is going to be a guest... Haha.
Jaedong: When's the live show?
Shin-Ae: It's every Monday and Wednesday. We won't have a gamer this week since it's a Christmas special. I'm pretty sure I can fit you in though if you want.
Fomos: You guys are meeting outside for the first time, what are your first impressions?
Jaedong: I saw her face for the first time at a stadium, and I was surprised at how small her face was. So I didn't want to take a picture together with her, that's my first impression of her.
Shin-Ae: That was when I came to see your game...! I asked the coach to take a picture of you on my phone (laughs). I'm a big fan...
Jaedong: Many people just say they're a fan, because it's a polite thing to do, are you sure you're not doing that? If not, that's good... Haha.
Fomos: What is it like to talk to Jaedong?
Shin-Ae: I think he's really shy. I thought Movie was really shy after seeing him on "Staying Up With Shin-Ae" recently, but Jaedong is just as shy. Actually, when I met him for the first time, Flash was really outgoing, but Jaedong ran away from me. I was going to write them a cheerful note when they were playing the OSL final in Shanghai, but I couldn't deliver it to Jaedong, because his expression was so scary.
Jaedong: I'm not actually like that. I'm not usually this quiet, but it's a little awkward today. When I'm with a friend, I'm such a hilarious guy, I just tend to get shy. Honestly, I want to be on "Staying Up With Shin-Ae" as long as there are no schedule conflicts. It was really fun when I went on a viewer interaction TV program.
Jaedong got a call during the interview, so we had to pause it for a second. The reporter saw that Jaedong was using a smartphone, so he asked Shin-Ae, who is leading the program "I'm Your App", to suggest an application for Jaedong.
Fomos: Shin-Ae, you're leading the show "I'm Your App", Jaedong is using a smartphone, can you suggest any applications for him?
Shin-Ae: Hmm... I need to know what kind of applications he likes to help him...
Jaedong: I don't really use applications, internet and KakaoTalk are all I use.
Shin-Ae: Then it's just a messenger (laughs).
Jaedong: You must know a lot, since you're on a application related TV show.
Shin-Ae: Actually, I didn't really know much before, I just got to know them recently. If you have a smartphone, don't you usually play a lot of games?
Jaedong: I used to play mobile games, but I tend not to play them anymore. I'm just using internet for now.
Since they started talking about applications, we used an iPhone application called "Pudding Face Recognizer" on Jaedong and Shin-Ae. As a result, Jaedong was recognized to be a 24 year old man, similar looking to a celebrity named Park Jae-Jung, and Shin-Ae was recognized to be a 25 year old woman, most similar to a trot singer Hyun-Sook.
Jaedong: Hmm... I like the fact that I look like a 24 year old man (laughs).
Shin-Ae: How could this be! It says I'm 25 years old. I'm a year older. Most similar looking to Hyun-Sook... What should I do...
Jaedong: Why~ Your general image is similar.
Shin-Ae: So you're saying I look like her?
Jaedong: Not necessarily...;;
After talking about applications for a long period of time, they started talking about Shin-Ae's debut experience.
Jaedong: When did you debut?
Shin-Ae: My first TV appearance was when I was in 2nd year of high school in the drama "Bad Girl Good Girl" as Choi Jin-Sil's child actress. I was also in the MBC campaign CF, but you probably don't know about that... I worked hard to become an actress, but last year, I made it through an audition for a child program. I guess I liked kids in the past too. I got used to doing live programs, and became what I am today (laughs).
Jaedong: What about game shows?
Shin-Ae: The first one was "When A Noob Meets A Gosu". I used to watch a lot of VOD's to study, and that was when I watched a lot of your games. I like guys that work hard and sweat while doing it. The pop star Rain was once my favorite~! Then when I watched you play, I saw you sweat heavily, that's when I became a fan, but I realized later that many other players sweat during their games too haha.
Jaedong: You're really out-going, you must be the mood maker in the shows.
Shin-Ae: That's right. JulyZerg used to be like you, he barely talked and was really shy at first. Now, we're really close. He once said in an interview that he likes women that are like me, that's all good, but he later said 'if she closes her mouth'... I talked to him about it, and he was all nervous and started behaving like how you are right now (laughs). We really became close though after doing so many programs together. So I can trust you saying that you could be a comedian if we become close, I realized how funny and confident JulyZerg was after getting to know him.
Jaedong: Who was the most memorable guest?
Shin-Ae: Movie was the most memorable. He actually did not talk. I heard that he was soft-spoken, but I didn't know it would be to that degree. I also remember Stork. He looked really sharp and scary, but he was very well-spoken and very soft. I realized I needed to experience a person to reall know them...
You looked really shy too, although you do laugh like a silly kid (laughs). I heard it from the coordinator ladies from OGN, well, you're so famous in the e-sports scene anyways.
Jaedong: You really are a bright person.
Shin-Ae: Everyone says so. I've always laughed a lot and I've been trying to live happily. I don't really have anything bad going on... I'm sometimes regretful that I don't get to show all my personality on TV as I get nervous.
Jaedong: Are there any shows you want to try out?
Shin-Ae: I want to expand my expertise. If I can, I want to be in a sitcom. Jaedong, you seem like you'd fit in well too.
Jaedong: No, me... I'm not confident.
Shin-Ae: Anyways, why aren't you laughing today? Aren't you glad that you got to meet me?
Jaedong: No, I laugh all the time. I'm just nervous since you're so pretty...
After getting to know their backgrounds, we found out that Hiya is a close friend of Shin-Ae. Jaedong knew about this before, so he wanted to know how they got to know each other.
Jaedong: So, how did you get to know Hiya?
Shin-Ae: Hiya made 2 appearances in "Staying Up With Shin-Ae". He was very bright, and we got along well. He said 'ya', so we became friends really fast (laughs). (T/N: 'ya' is when you say 'hey' to a friend or someone younger than you)
Jaedong: I want to be close to you too haha.
Shin-Ae: Me too. Let's be close from now on. Hiya texted me once saying that he was so annoyed to watch a movie with another guy (laughs). Wasn't that you?
Jaedong: Hmm... Actually, I like men. (T/N: Jaedong coming out of the closet...oh god)
Shin-Ae: Ah, that's right. I saw Hiya on a drum after a match. You looked frustrated. Especially your zerglings (laughs).
Jaedong: Ah... You don't have to watch things like that... If you thought it was funny, then it's alright I guess.
Shin-Ae: What was the last movie you watched?
Jaedong: I watched "Cheap Romance" with my teammates.
Shin-Ae: Ah... the movie with Choi Kang-Hui. You like movies like that? I like horror movies. I was shocked to see "Scissors" when I was in 5th grade of elementary school... That's when I became interested.
Jaedong: I can't believe a 5th grader watched an inappropriate movie...
Shin-Ae: I only saw it because it was on TV! Ha Ji-Won's eyes were so scary, I can still remember it.
Jaedong: I see. That's interesting.
Shin-Ae: That I said her eyes were scary? That's strange... You seem like you would be scared too...
Jaedong: Right. I hate scary movies!
Shin-Ae: Of course... You're so shy and seem like you'd be scared of many things (laughs).
Shin-Ae: What's your blood type?
Jaedong: I'm O.
Shin-Ae: Hmm? Type O's aren't usually like this, I'm O as well. Hiya said we had similar personalities, but there's one type O that is unlike us, that must have been you (laughs)?
Most progamers stay in the practice room to practice even during breaks and Jaedong is one of them. Shin-Ae insisted on asking about Jaedong's hobbies as she was very curious.
Shin-Ae: Are there any hobbies you particularly enjoy?
Jaedong: I don't have too much time...
Shin-Ae: So you just wake up, play games, eat and sleep?
Jaedong: I'm always thinking about games, I don't think I can live without it. To think of it, it's true that I don't do anything else... It's sad that I don't have other hobbies.
Shin-Ae: Really? I heard you liked going to karaoke?
Jaedong: I'm not good at singing. There are times where I don't sing anything even if I go.
Shin-Ae: No, Hiya told me you really liked singing. You're lying to me right?
Jaedong: I'm not. We went yesterday to change the atmosphere after a loss, but I didn't sing.
Fomos: Jaedong recently filmed a CF and sang H.O.T's "Candy", Shin-Ae, did you catch that?
Jaedong: Ah... You didn't have to mention that...
Shin-Ae: I should look it up! (laughs).
Where we held the interview, Young Deung Po Time Square, was decorated just for Christmas. Maybe because of the cafes playing carols nearby, Jaedong and Shin-Ae naturally started to talk about Christmas.
Jaedong: What are you doing this Christmas?
Shin-Ae: Mmm... I'm going to be monitoring my broadcast. I'm scheduled until the Friday, but I'm free on Saturday (laughs). What about you?
Jaedong: Me... I'll just play games.
Shin-Ae: Hiya told me once that you two would be practicing that day (laughs). You're really passionate about the game, maybe all zerg players are like that... I used to think that whenever I saw JulyZerg, but I see that from you too. Your passion and thoughts of the game are really similar to him. Zerg players must be really strong, not that other races are weak... I'm a protoss user myeslf (laughs).
Fomos: What is your most memorable Christmas?
Jaedong: I can't think of a truly memorable Christmas. I can't believe I can't remember any...
Shin-Ae: What about Christmas eve memories?
Jaedong: If I don't have any Christmas memories, how can I have Christmas eve memories? I remember losing a game in front of a big crowd last year. Not the best experience...
Shin-Ae: I think I've always enjoyed Christmas, I like special days like Christmas or birthdays. I like to prepare a cake and party with my friends. We used to play on the snow and watch "Home Alone" (laughs)...
Jaedong: That's like the opposite of me...
Shin-Ae: Don't you feel that romance of Christmas?
Jaedong: Romance... Of course there is... I don't think I even got a memorable Christmas present. Ah, this is so depressing. I just want to win a game this year. At least I'll be happy then (laughs).
Shin-Ae: What do you want for Christmas?
Jaedong: A present? I don't think I want anything either. After listening to you, I want to spend a special day that I can remember too. I hope it can be an awesome day (laughs).
We wrapped up the interview after a while. As a way to look back on 2010, Jaedong and Shin-Ae didn't forget to leave a comment to the fans, even in the midst of an enjoyable date(?).
Shin-Ae: It's the year's end already. Time goes so fast. Firstly, I got to be on TV with my own name, and got to interview a famous player like Jaedong. There have been many big and small events, but it was a happy 2010. I shouldn't be overconfident and try harder. It's an obvious answer, but... 2010 was a good year (laughs).
Jaedong: I see. 2010 wasn't the greatest year for me. I want 2011 to come quickly, and play with a new mindset. I don't think the Jaedong of 2010 improved at all, I'm regretting it now that it's December. I want to approach 2011 with a fresh start, I want to do really well.
Fomos: It was nice seeing you two... Can you make any comments to the e-sports fans?
Shin-Ae: Enjoy the holidays and I hope it snows this Christmas, so Jaedong can be happy while looking at the snow (laughs). I visit Fomos frequently, I will show a better self in 2011 so please keep supporting me and cheer for Jaedong as well.
Jaedong: Thank you for loving Fomos and keep cheering for me. End 2010 on a good note, I will be a new Jaedong in 2011 so you can expect a lot from me. Ah, I go on Fomos a lot too, so refrain yourselves from leaving hurtful comments (laughs). I will really try to be fresh and better, so I hope the fans can greet the new year in a new attitude as well.
Shin-Ae: Lastly... let's be friends, friend!
Jaedong: Ok... Don't be close with just Hiya, and let's be hard-working friends. Fighting!
Original interview: http://www.fomos.kr/board/board.php?mode=read&keyno=113723&db=issue&page=1&field=&kwrd=