Day 1 interviews
Q: Your feelings on winning all four games to get into the Ro8?
A: This is my first time participating in WCG, I’m very happy to reach the Ro8. There is still a good number of matches, I hope I will demonstrate my effort in them.
Q: You are guaranteed to avoid meeting any other Korean players before the finals now.
A: Initially, I actually didn’t read the bracket correctly. I thought I would be playing Flash in the semifinals, but now that I’ve looked closer, I think my luck is fantastic. So I’ll work hard to take advantage of this excellent bracket.
Q: I heard that yesterday the three Korean players went down to the city together? [T/N who would have guessed? They all said they were going to]
A: I was very cautious in buying, so I didn’t buy very much. However, the prices were really cheap, and it was a good experience. If I get another opportunity to go shopping again, I’ll buy more. Although I feel slight regret, I think it was a fun experience.
Q: America has a good share of fans too
A: I think it was awesome that this many European and American spectators actually recognized us. I have an online practice partner who lives in America, and I just met him. That was really magical as well. However my popularity is still a far cry from Flash’s or Jaedong’s.
Q: Your evaluation of the foreigners’ skill levels?
A: Their play-styles are extremely different, there was a very wide variety of styles, it was distinctly non-Korean.
source: http://www.wfbrood.com/xingji/hanguoxingji/xingji_56193.html
Q: Your thoughts on winning all four games to enter the Ro8 as first in your group?
A: I’m delighted that I managed to advance first in my group, although I felt that getting first in my group was natural. The Ro8 is a Bo3, so I must obtain further success to advance again.
Q: It’s very likely that you will meet Flash in the Ro4.
A: I’m also pondering that. I knew I would probably come across another Korean player by the Ro4. I’ll go all out.
Q: Your recent string of losses to Flash has fans worried.
A: I don’t think there’s cause for worry. At WCG I was bound to play him again, but this is already a new season, and I’m starting fresh with my own feelings too. I won’t let down the fans that have supported me to now, so don’t worry everyone.
Q: Yesterday you and the other Korean representatives went shopping.
A: I was originally very eager, but the journey has been very different than I anticipated, and I’m really exhausted. Since I was tired, I didn’t really visit too many shops. The goods were cheaper than in Korea, and they were very novel to me. I only ended up buying some clothes though.
Q: In America, there are so many fans, are you truly feeling popular?
A: When I arrived at the competition area, so many fans had showed up, and on top of that many asked me for autographs; it felt really awesome. Participating in the WCG is really a different atmosphere than back in Korea, and it really helps me be a true progamer. The environment has me flushed with ambition.
source: http://www.wfbrood.com/xingji/hanguoxingji/xingji_56191.html
Q: Your feelings about making the Ro8 first in your group with four wins?
A: I’m really happy about entering the Ro8 undefeated. In the Ro8, I’ll also work hard and win all my games.
Q: You will probably fight another Lee-Ssang-Rok battle in the semis.
A: I’m rooming with Jaedong right now [T/N where’s Kal?]; before I left Korea I didn’t really consider this much, but if I do end up meeting him I will definitely go all out. Even if I lose, I hope that the eventual champion is Korean. If that champion is me, that would be the best of course. (haha)
Q: I heard the three Korean players visited the city yesterday.
A: Our schedule was pretty tight, and we pretty much ran through the streets. However, I was satisfied with our adventure, and if I get another opportunity, I hope to go buy more good things.
Q: There are also quite a few fans in America
A: The startling thing is, in China I didn’t feel my popularity as much as here. Despite us being so far from East Asia, there are still so many people coming up to us asking for autographs. It was truly moving. I felt really lucky to meet so many of my fans so far away from home.
Q: How are the foreigners’ skill levels? [T/N wasn’t this asked yesterday?]
A: The skill gap between us is large. Especially within my group, I felt my group was far easier than the others.
source: http://www.wfbrood.com/xingji/hanguoxingji/xingji_56198.html