The first split was quite rough as my English was poor; I can only blame myself for not quickly fitting in. By the end of the season, though, I had zero issues communicating in-game. Freely conversing with teammates out of game took longer, but we eventually nailed that down as well.
As I overcame the language barrier, however, I realized how much Korean pros' and foreign pros' attitudes differed. For Koreans, "being a pro" is synonymous with "living to win"; foreigners seemed to care much less. I felt many of them weren't even playing to win. They were just there because a team gave them a contract for being good at the game. It frustrated me to no end. My teammates used to sit next to me playing other games while I was working my ass off in solo queue. Korean players slack off from time to time too, but not nearly as much.
Would you say it's a matter of professionalism?
Even if NA solo queue is suboptimal practice compared to KR solo queue, it's still much better than no practice. I used to nag my teammates a lot about their lack of individual practice. I heard it's gotten a bit better since I left, but still, what's deficient is deficient.
Was playing in the NA LCS a satisfying experience for you?
Carrying so many games helped me recharge my confidence, so yes. [laughs] I felt as if I had regained my 2013 form at last, and was very happy with my level of play. It would have been perfect if I had won something to boot. Playing very well but having nothing to show for it really hurt. I still remember TSM not wanting to scrim with us, but then suddenly going 'Oh wait, you guys have Piglet, right?' They wanted to book a scrim immediately. I was that good! [laughs]
For a while, I let some of the praise go to my head. It wasn't my fault I was losing, it was my team holding me back, you know, the general stuff. But the longer we went without silverware, the more I began to blame myself, despite everyone telling me otherwise.
Why did you move to Team Liquid Academy?
I no longer wanted to play with the first team, so talked it over with the coaching staff and made the decision to move to TLA. I actually was planning to take a week off, too, but was incensed by the flood of lies following the transfer. So many publications were spewing outrageous rumors as if they were fact. Enraged, I returned to practice right away.
The worst part was some fans thinking it was a performance-based decision. I never lost lane in scrims, not even against Korean teams. I actually considered returning to LCK just to quench those baseless rumors.
Why did you no longer want to play with the first team?
Repeated altercations with a certain player. I was sick and tired of arguing with him in-game all the time. I couldn't take any more of the stress. I really enjoyed sharing all the ins and outs of the game with my teammates, such as Lourlo and Matt, and watching them improve. But that one player was just too much. I wanted to play with teammates, not stars.
The bottom line was that one of us would have to move. I thought it would be better all-around if I went to TLA, so volunteered to move instead of forcing the coaching staff to choose.
I loved playing on Team Liquid Academy. All four of my teammates were receptive to my suggestions; all five of us were always ready to sacrifice for the greater good. We improved a lot in a short period of time. If we had managed to break through promotions, I most likely would have stayed.
We all know who you're talking about.
Not very difficult to guess, is it? I do have a bit of an ego myself, but his was even larger. I would often disagree with my teammates' or the coaching staff's perspectives on the game, but was open to giving the more persuasive ones a try. That was not the case for him; he could never back down from an argument. It was a shame, really. He's a very good player. We were very good friends out of game, too.
How was your relationship with Locodoco?
We got along fine, despite rumors to the contrary. There were some in-game disagreements, but that's what a player-coach relationship entails. I respect his abilities as a coach, and agree that TL improved since he took over, especially in terms of rotations. Although not by much... [laughs] My teammates also got better at wave management. Not me, though. Because I was already perfect. [laughs]
How was "his" relationship with Locodoco?
They fought. A lot. They fought in scrims, between LCS matches... all the time. I didn't mind that much at first, but it eventually became a problem. Their arguments also played a part in my moving to TLA.
What are your thoughts on NA being the butt of so many jokes?
I don't really mind the "NA LUL" memes, to be honest. It's true that a lot of hilarious plays occur. ADCs regularly flash forward and get blown up at the start of teamfights. Maybe I'm biased due to being an NA player, but NA LCS really is fun to watch. And the league is improving at a fast pace, too.
I also appreciate how NA players are less afraid to rock the boat; LCK interviews are so boring to listen to nowadays. Things weren't like that in my day. If I were to return to Korea, I'd fire shots everywhere and make headlines week after week. [laughs]
Who was your favorite NA player?
Matt. We spent a lot of time together and were very close. Another close friend was Coach David "Dlim" Lim. And as I mentioned before, "he" and I got along extremely well when we weren't playing the game. It's really unfortunate that things turned out the way they did.
Have you ever wanted to play with a support other than Matt?
Not really. I never go, "Wow, he looks pretty good. I'd do great with him!" It's not that simple. A bottom lane duo's personalities have to be compatible.
Do you prefer a certain style of support over others?
I love playing with AP Alistar mains. [laughs] I actually play AP Alistar sometimes, and usually end up dealing more damage than the midlaner! [laughs] But to answer your question seriously, no. All the supports I've played with had different styles. PoohManDu, Wraith, Xpecial, Smoothie, Matt, Stunt - all of them had their own approach to the game. I enjoyed each and every one of them.
What are your plans for the future?
I'm keeping my options open, and extending with Team Liquid is one of those. As long as the team properly recognizes my value, I'm fine with going to any region. For this reason, I'm skeptical of my chances of heading back to Korea. Most LCK players are underpaid.
I would prefer to play where I would have the best chance to win, though - a fat paycheck means nothing in the end if you end up not winning anything. And I highly value a good team atmosphere. So if I were to order my priorities, it would go - odds of a tournament win, then teamwork, then acceptable pay.
Any last words for your fans?
I'm very, very grateful to the fans who still cheer for me despite my years of going without silverware. Had it not been for your support, I would have lost interest in playing long ago. Please keep on believing in me. I promise to take home a tournament soon.
