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United States32487 Posts
Original article/main source: Joongang Ilbo
Is there life after esports? We’ve all heard the success stories, ranging from Xellos joining team sponsor CJ as a regular employee to Yellow’s emergence as a regular guest on Korean variety shows. Yet, for all the concerns fans have for retiring progamers—the lack of formal education or vocational training—we rarely hear about their struggles after leaving the industry. Korea’s Joongang Ilbo newspaper recently caught up with Lee “Ssamjang” Gi-seok.—one of the first progamers to gain nationwide recognition—and uncovered what might be a more typical post-esports tale. In 1999—an era before OnGameNet, KeSPA, or esports stadiums—Ssamjang seized one of the only championships that mattered—Blizzard’s official Ladder Tournament. StarCraft was at the apex of its popularity in Korea, and the victory made Ssamjang an instant celebrity. It even earned him a starring role in a national television advertisement for internet provider Kornet, giving him a level of mainstream recognition that may not have been matched even to this date. Unfortunately, Ssamjang began to decline almost immediately after, and faded into obscurity after retiring in 2004. Ssamjang told the Joongang Ilbo “the fall happened in an instant,” stating his frequent appearances on TV and at promotional events cut into his training time. His yearly salary at its peak, 50,000,000 won (approximately $44,000 USD), dropped to 3,000,000 (approx. $2,600). Eventually, Ssamjang would end up travelling to Japan to study programming at a technical college. An acquaintance had told him such a degree could earn him a lot of money in Korea, but Ssamjang’s prospects were not so promising upon his return home in 2013 (since Ssamjang retired in 2004, there’s a large amount of time that remains unaccounted for in the article). He sought employment at Hospitals and start-ups, but he was turned away due to his old age (he was born in 1980). Twice, Ssamjang took a shot at Korea’s highly competitive civil service exams, but failed to pass the cut both times. According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He said of his colleagues “Among former progamers, there are those that rebound as employees of big companies or coaches of progaming teams. But there are also those who do manual labor at construction sites or work in the nightlife industry.” After a stint of working as a driver, Ssamjang found employment last July at a major tutoring company—the Japanese he had learned abroad had finally come in handy. In some ways, Ssamjang has distanced himself from his past, saying “I’ve been hiding my past because of some school parents who believe the stereotype of ‘gamers are poor at studies.'” Yet, in his parting comments to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang revealed that StarCraft is still a part of him. “The ‘mech’ strategy that gamers still talk about to this day was made by studying the strategies of other gamers. It’s still the same today. By carefully watching the star lecturers on the exam school circuit, I’m developing my own teaching style. I don’t think my experience as a progamer was a failure. I learned that whatever you do, it’s important to have the attitude to study diligently.”
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Interesting read. Thanks for sharing this article.
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Not so surprising. I guess many progamers could fall into the same spot if they don't make enough money (for the start of something new in the progamer afterlife) during their peak or if they don't already start some career in gaming (or gaming related) industry while their form start to decline (e.g. turning into caster, producer etc.).
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51133 Posts
i found this quote from nazgul when ssamjang left hexatron and subsequently retired quite funny
On October 20 2004 09:03 [BOyGiRl]ShaRp wrote:Lee Gi Suk, Ssamjang, also left the team for business reasons. Although he tried to regain his skills as a progamer he didn't succeed and after discussing with the team he decided to leave to start his own business. He is planning to open a PC Bang in the Seoul Gang Nam area, which is probably Korea's most busiest and modern place. For a big Hexatron fan it is sad to see these two legend leave. It was only yesterday when I was excited about the news of Liquibition and was waiting to see Gundam beat Strafe T-T. As new members join the team to strengthen it, it is sad to see legends go such as Giyom, Jinnam, Gundam, and Ssamjang. Anyways, I hope Hexatron beats SKT 1 and advances in the pro leagues and good luck to Ssamjang and Gundam wherever they go and whatever they do. Gundam and Ssamjang Fighting!!
On October 20 2004 09:08 Liquid`Nazgul wrote: Gundam wants to play without a team, that's his reason. He will continue progaming, for a while. He's practicing alot again and wants to qualify for the next Challenge League.
(SSamjang sucked horribly.)
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51133 Posts
also if anyone is curious about what some players are doing now i wrote this up a year ago
On February 11 2016 17:51 GTR wrote:Peace - 7th Grade Civil Servant Clon - Researcher at Hyundai Motor Company Much - 9th Grade Civil Servant Anytime - Runs a Bakery franchise DarkElf - Works at a Chicken franchise
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Looks like he won the 2nd Season of 1999 (OP links to the first one). http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/1999_Brood_War_Season_2_Ladder_Tournament
Thanks for the article. I wonder what he did between 2004-2013. If it's a technical school I can only think it took him no more than 3 years to complete his coursework. Sucks he couldn't find work in the field though and had to try doing something else again (I'm curious if it would've been better for him as a prospective programmer to stay in Japan). There's a lot of talk about ageism in devshops in the West, but I feel there's around half as many employers who do appreciate people doing 180°s in their careers here. Glad he's doing better now in any case.
On February 11 2016 17:51 GTR wrote:Clon - Researcher at Hyundai Motor Company Did he go back to school for that?
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On February 15 2017 16:12 GTR wrote:also if anyone is curious about what some players are doing now i wrote this up a year ago
thanks
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Lomo and Calm are police officers right?
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Japan11285 Posts
Felt a bit saddened by the hardship he had to face when the reality of not being able to compete in professional StarCraft ate at him. I hope the job he got is stable and pays well.
He should have stayed in Japan imo (9 years of study seems odd though.)
Thanks for the read, now I know that I can use some of my Japanese skills (or lack thereof) might come in handy someday. イ・キソクさん、頑張ってね! 이기석 화이팅!!!
edit 2 @daniel: I think you're right.
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Awesome! It's really cool to see how pros adjust to life after they retire... doesn't look that happy but it's not super bleak either. :/
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On February 15 2017 16:12 GTR wrote:also if anyone is curious about what some players are doing now i wrote this up a year ago
What exactly is a civil servant?
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On February 16 2017 02:17 ruypture wrote:Show nested quote +On February 15 2017 16:12 GTR wrote:also if anyone is curious about what some players are doing now i wrote this up a year ago On February 11 2016 17:51 GTR wrote:Peace - 7th Grade Civil Servant Clon - Researcher at Hyundai Motor Company Much - 9th Grade Civil Servant Anytime - Runs a Bakery franchise DarkElf - Works at a Chicken franchise What exactly is a civil servant?
Government service employee, of which there are several status levels also known as grades. The types of jobs in the Korean civil service are really quite broad. If you're curious just google "Korean Civil Service"
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Always interesting and nice to hear updates about retired players. It must be super hard to adjust to normal life, but it seems like many are doing just fine.
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On February 11 2016 17:51 GTR wrote:DarkElf - Works at a Chicken franchise
Serves him right for being part of the matchfixing scandal.
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On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.
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good read, didn't know korea kept china's style of civil exam to become a state servant
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Wow, who would of thought? Playing video games for a living as a young adult does not set you up for a high paying career later on in life. Never would have guessed.
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On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:Show nested quote +On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work. What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.
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On February 16 2017 13:23 Devolved wrote: Wow, who would of thought? Playing video games for a living as a young adult does not set you up for a high paying career later on in life. Never would have guessed.
A bland basic education into college into a drone like entry into the workforce isnt for everyone.
The fact that he even had a year to live modestly off of progaming is amazing. One year being able to do whatever you love and be paid modest means is accomplishing a dream really
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On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:Show nested quote +On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work. What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book. 44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.
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TLADT24917 Posts
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.
On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:Show nested quote +On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work. What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book. 44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support. what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.
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On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride. Show nested quote +On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work. What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book. 44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support. what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo. From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.
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Oo wasn't Ssamjang one of the first successful progamers before BoxeR/Garimto era? I even remember that BoxeR used him as very first role model's for himself. I like this kind of articles, taking me so much back (even if I didn't know pro scene exist that time).
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very interesting. thank you for posting this. I believe some of this is true for almost all kinds of professional sports/athletics. a good program would (and does) feature sort of education parallel to the time as an active player. it exists in Germany for example for Olympic disciplines. however I can see, that a (classic) physical sport leaves generally more room for intelectual studies than an intellectual demanding but less physical profession like gaming. is there a way to find better balance? (Think of Polt...)
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51133 Posts
On February 16 2017 14:37 Ilikestarcraft wrote:Show nested quote +On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride. On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote: According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.” He made 44k when he was good, so it did work. What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book. 44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support. what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo. From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.
yeah especially since he didn't have a family to support or anything, that's really good for a korean person at that time
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It feels like time travel :D
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This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement
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On February 17 2017 04:19 darthfoley wrote: This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement I don't know if I remember this correctly or not, but didn't kespa made some statements on wanting to help with this?
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that was an incredibly sad story, and 44k is not a lot of money, at least not in the US during 2003-4. especially if your career advancement options afterward are zilch.
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Thanks for posting this. I remember watching his play fondly as a high schooler. Would peruse the VODS. This was a trip down memory lane.
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