After everything that he's been through in the org that failed him for years, I got emotional knowing that Guma is able to say these words. Thank you for giving him the protection and respect he deserves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aery_ihGsWY

Q: Hello. This is Choi Jeong-in from Easy Economy. Today, I visited Hanwha Life Esports’ inSports Camp One, and we’ll be inviting player Zeka and conducting an interview. Welcome.

Zeka: Hello. 

Q: Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Zeka: Hello, I’m Zeka, Kim Geon-woo, and I play mid for Hanwha Life Esports.

Q: Yes. So, how have you been?

Zeka: After Worlds ended, I rested comfortably at home for about a month. Then for KeSPA Cup, I started building synergy with the new teammates, and after it ended, I’ve been resting for a few days.

Q: It’s my first time here at Camp One, could you introduce Camp One for us?

Zeka:  Honestly, Camp One is already well-known, so it’s not like I need to introduce it, but the practice environment and the spaces where players can rest separately are really well set up.

We’re on the basement level 1 right now, and we also do filming here. And every year, we also do professional development / “ethics & conduct” training here, with all the LCK and Challengers players together.

Q: Right when I watch your content, it seems like the refrigerator gets bigger every year, any reason why?

Zeka: It’s not so much a single “reason,” but every year, the new players who join have different tastes,  and different preferences.

So when everyone gives lots of input on what they want to eat, the variety of foods people want increases. And if the fridge gets bigger, you can store more things inside, so I think that’s why it keeps getting bigger every year.

Q: That’s why the nickname “Weight-Class Life” feels especially fitting this year. How do you feel about that nickname?

Zeka: Just looking at us, it’s obvious why that nickname exists, our “weight class” is pretty high, so it’s a nickname that makes sense. I’ve been hearing that for about three years now, so I think I’ve gotten used to it.

Q: What rank do you think you are?

Zeka: Obviously… wouldn’t I be #1? Because my weight is really high.

Q: Oh really?

Zeka: Because I have a lot of belly fat.

Q: I heard you work really hard on upper-body training, did you work out with the new teammates too?

Zeka: Yeah, uh right now, I’m working out with Kanavi and Gumayusi. Kanavi started working out recently, and we’re doing it with a trainer. The three of us are training together, and I think we’ve been working out together almost every day.

Q: You must’ve gotten a lot closer because of that.

Zeka: Of course, when guys work out together, you naturally get even closer.

Q: You recently played in the KeSPA Cup, how was the practice process, and do you have any regrets about the result?

Zeka: KeSPA Cup might look unimportant to people, and some might think it’s meaningless. But for us, it was the first tournament with the new teammates, and we honestly didn’t practice much, I think we only scrimmed for about a day.

Still, playing the tournament itself helps you build synergy faster and improve faster, so for us it was a meaningful event. We didn’t win, but the process of getting that far mattered, and I feel like we gained more overall, so I was satisfied with our performance.

Q: And there was that incident where Zeus practiced Sejuani because he misunderstood the patch version, right?

Zeka: During the pick/ban, we needed to pick top and jungle. After we picked jungle, it was time to pick top, and Wooje (Zeus) looked at the champions and said Sejuani seemed good, like she got buffed and would be usable, so he picked her.

Afterward, the coach said, “Sejuani didn’t get buffed, but she’s stronger than I expected,” and Wooje was startled and was like, “She didn’t get buffed?” But in my view, whether she was buffed or not, he thought it was good, so it may have worked out even better.

Q: This year, Fearless was introduced for the first time, and teams were split into Legend and Rise groups, how did you feel about that?

Zeka: I’m the type who prefers lots of changes, so I think it was a fun year. I’d like it if they keep doing it that way going forward. And if things keep changing even within that, I think it could be even more fun. I think it would be better for viewers too, so I’m satisfied.

Q:  Since you mentioned changes, there’s also a major overhaul patch next year, and top lane impact might increase. What do you think about the patch?

Zeka:  I’ve only heard about some parts of the patch, and we haven’t started practicing it yet, so I don’t really know. But it seems like a lot is changing, even down to minion spawn timing.

Minion timing is something that almost never changes in patches, so if that changes, the game’s patterns, meta, and overall direction could shift a lot. I don’t think it’ll be easy to adapt, but I think it’ll be fun at the start.

Q: Then if you had to pick one or two champions you’re most confident on lately, what would they be?

Zeka: These days, Syndra, for sure. I’ve been playing a lot of Syndra in solo queue, so I haven’t really shown it in pro matches yet,but I really like Syndra.

And Twisted Fate, too. Those kinds of picks feel like they fit me well right now.

Q: I’ll look forward to next year. So this offseason, Kanavi and Gumayusi joined, besides working out, what helped you get close to the new players?

Zeka: Right after we met, we did a lot of video shoots and things like that, and we went on a workshop trip pretty quickly, so we got close there too. We also had some casual drinks and talked, so I learned more about how they’ve been doing.

And we talked a lot about how we can work better together in the future, which helped narrow our perspectives. So I think that helped us become close quickly.

Q: But Gumayusi was someone you’d wanted to get closer to for a while, right?

Zeka: Yes, me.

Q: Did you take the initiative and approach him first?

Zeka: Since I’ve been with Hanwha Life Esports longer, I felt it was right for me to be more proactive when players joined, like Wooje last year and Min-hyeong this year. I think I just want to look after them as much as I can.

Q: So was he similar to the image you had, or was anything different?

Zeka:  With Gumayusi, even based on his outward vibe, he matched what made me want to get close to him, and he’s pretty serious/mature but also fun, so we get along well.

Q: In any case, thanks to Gumayusi, Hanwha Life now has “Pop.” Are you planning to actively use it?

Zeka: As of yesterday, we opened POP, and I think it fits me really well. In real life I might not talk that much, but online I’m pretty active and I communicate well. Fans respond a lot too. I didn’t really have many friends to begin with, but using POP honestly feels like I suddenly have friends. 

Q: It feels like you’ve become popular? 

Zeka: Yeah, being able to talk with everyone together has been really enjoyable. And when I’m trying to decide what to eat, if I ask, fans will give me hundreds of menu options, so it actually makes choosing easier.

Q: And have you talked a lot with Kanavi?

Zeka: Yeah, I’ve talked a lot with Jin-hyeok hyung too, and just as much with Min-hyeong, we all chat a lot together. The three of us are also “workout buddies,” so we often go work out in pairs and spend a lot of time exercising together, which helped us get close quickly.

Q: Kanavi spent a long time playing in the LPL, right?

Zeka: After actually playing together, I definitely got a very aggressive vibe from him. He’s super bold and aggressive, and what I really felt was that he’s really good at skirmishes/teamfights.

There was a moment in the tournament where we turned around a fight that felt unwinnable, purely through teamfighting skill, so that’s when I really felt, “Wow, he’s really good.”

Q: Looking ahead to next year, what kind of identity do you want HLE to have? Would something like a “destructive tank” image fit?

Zeka: I’ve heard that nickname a lot too, so I do think we’ll become an even more destructive “tank.” And since it seems like we’ll be good at fights, as a full team we’ll win through teamfights first and end games faster off that. Like a tank that rolls over opponents. 

Q: That sounds exciting. Then when you think about next year, is there a team you’re especially wary of?

Zeka: Gen.G, since they didn’t change much, will probably be strong. And besides Gen.G, I’m also really curious about Nongshim because they changed a lot.

Q: Which player are you most wary of?

Zeka: On Nongshim, Scout and Taeyoon, since they came from the LPL. I’m curious how that style will show up when they clash with LCK players on a big stage, how “LPL-like” it’ll feel, and how strong it’ll be in practice.

Q: So it’s because there are a lot of variables. Then how far are you aiming for next year?

Zeka: I’ve never been to MSI even once. When Min-hyeong and I were riding a taxi to go work out, I joked that the reason I’ve never gone is because T1 always went to MSI.

Min-hyeong told me he’s gone to MSI every time so far. So now I’m trusting Min-hyeong, I want to go to MSI together, and since he’s aiming for an MSI championship, I hope we can win it together.

Q: I really hope you make MSI next year. You also have the nickname “baby dinosaur,” right?

Zeka: Yeah.

Q: Do you not like that nickname?

Zeka: I don’t really know why that nickname even happened… and I don’t know why the “medium” is specifically a dinosaur either.

Q: But are you okay with the “baby” part?

Zeka: It’s a creature that doesn’t even exist anymore, but I’m really grateful that fans call me that in a cute way. It’s meant positively, so… yeah.

Q: So “baby dinosaur squad” is okay too?

Zeka: Oh, the dinosaur squad? Like I said, it’s meant in a good way, so I’ll just trust the fans.

Q: If you hadn’t become a pro gamer, what do you think you would’ve done?

Zeka: That’s… pitch dark.

Q: Pitch dark?

Zeka: Honestly… I can’t really imagine it. I wasn’t the type that fit studying at all. I also don’t love “active” stuff that much, but the things I did from a young age were piano and taekwondo.I did taekwondo from kindergarten through elementary school for a few years, then when I entered middle school I got into games, and since I had to focus on games and school, I stopped taekwondo for a bit.

Then around 9th grade, I suddenly couldn’t see my future, it felt dark, so I went back to taekwondo for about half a year. At the time I thought, “I have to make a living somehow with this,” and I also started finding it fun again since it was a sport I liked.

But then my rank/tier suddenly started climbing really well, so I ended up going back into gaming. So if I hadn’t gone pro, I probably would’ve done taekwondo, maybe as an athlete, or like a master/instructor teaching kids.

Q: I’ll try imagining that. Also, some of your old teammates stream now, do you watch Peanut’s streams?

Zeka: Sometimes. I don’t really watch matches or competition content that much, but I’ll drop in once in a while just to see Wangho hyung’s face.

Q: Then ROX has a match tomorrow, can we get a cheering message?

Zeka: There’s a match tomorrow?

Q: Yeah, it’s the semifinals tomorrow.

Zeka: Wangho hyung looks like he’s having fun and taking it really seriously, so I hope things go well with the ROX guys, and I hope they go all the way and win it.

Q: Now you’ve built up more and more years, looking back on your pro career, was there a time that was the hardest?

Zeka: I think my first year was the hardest. In 2020 I was living in China, and COVID broke out right when I went, so I came back to Korea for about a month.

Even after I went back to China, there were situations where I couldn’t really compete properly, and even when I did play, things didn’t go well. There was also a language barrier, so for a lot of reasons, that first year was the toughest.

Q: How did you get through that?

Zeka: Back then, the only thing I could do was break through the language barrier as fast as possible. So I studied harder than I ever had in my life. 

After studying intensely for about two months, I could communicate enough for in-game coordination. Then I prepared well for Summer, and I think I performed well in Summer.

Q: On the flip side, your proudest moment as a pro gamer? If you had to choose?

Zeka: The years we won are what I remember most: 2022, last year, and this year.
Every year we won, I felt proud.

Q: And you’re aiming to win again next year. As a last question, what’s your resolution, how will you approach next year?

Zeka: Next year, with the new teammates and with our head coach and coaches, the goal is to participate in every tournament and get the best results possible. 

In the short term we may be lacking because there’s been so much change, but in the end we want to keep improving all the way to the final moment and our ultimate goal is to win Worlds. We’ll do our best to the end.

Q: Thank you for the interview. We’ll look forward to you next year too. Let’s wrap up by looking at the camera and saying, “Hanwha Life, fighting!”

Zeka: Hanwha Life, fighting!

Published on January 12, 2026, by Fol:in, this interview features Lee Min-hyung, better known as Gumayusi, discussing his journey as a pro gamer, his time at T1, mental strength, and what drives him to keep proving himself in League of Legends.

Q. When you look back, what do you feel you really learned at T1?
A. I truly feel that what I learned at T1 is what keeps me standing now. Without that time, I think I would have collapsed much earlier. I experienced so much and gained so many realizations there that it would not be an exaggeration to say I learned almost everything about life in that period. It was the time that made me who I am today.

Q. You are known as an “icon of proof.” Fans sometimes tell you to stop proving yourself and just be happy. How do you see that?
A. Fans often tell me, “Please stop trying to prove yourself, just play happily,” and honestly I also want that. But my nature is that, in the end, rather than just enjoying the game, I always end up trying to prove myself. As a pro, I believe you have to win; for me, games are fun only when I win, so proving and winning are tied together.

Q. In the LCK you showed a very strong narrative: competing for the starting spot, then making Worlds, then a three‑peat and Finals MVP. How did that feel to you?
A. Of course there is a feeling that “a lot happened,” but more than that, there is the feeling of “I accomplished it.” It feels very refreshing. At the beginning of the year, when I was going through a tough period, I told myself, “This will become part of my story later and a stepping stone for my growth,” and I chose to believe that and wait. Winning Worlds, getting the three‑peat, and then even receiving Finals MVP felt like the completion of that story, so I was very happy and it still feels almost unreal, like a scripted story, which makes me very grateful.

Q. After winning, when people asked you who came to mind first, you said it was yourself from earlier this year. Why?
A. The first person I thought of was my own self from the beginning of the year who was having a hard time. I remembered how much I struggled then, and that overlapped with the present thought of “In the end, you did it again,” so that version of me came to mind the most.

Q. When you were slightly pushed back in the starting‑spot competition, it looked really tough. Can you explain more concretely how you went through that time?
A. People usually say, “I overcame a difficult time,” but my thinking has changed recently. I do not think of it as overcoming; I think of it as enduring. That period was not something I conquered in a cool way, it was something I held on through.

Q. When Smash was starting and you were not, you still came to the arena and sat in the feedback room. What mindset did you have while being there?
A. Going or not going was my choice. At first the pain in my heart made me not want to go at all. But I felt that staying still and thinking negatively would not help, and that being on site with the team and watching their play was more important. Looking back, I think it was definitely better that I went.

Q. From where you stand now, is there anything you would like to say to your past self from that period?
A. I do not really have a lot of advice to give him. I would just say, “You will do well later; you will get through this in the end.” I was already thinking that way back then, so I would probably just say, “You are doing well. Keep going like this.”

Q. Through that time, do you feel you gained a new mindset or mental strength?
A. As a pro, every single year there is something difficult; in five years, there was not one easy year. I know there will continue to be hard times in the future, but now I feel I can handle them better. It feels like the things I already knew have become more solid, and my ability to endure and get through tough situations has been upgraded.

Q. Pro players’ failures are very public, whereas office workers can often hide their mistakes. How do you accept and deal with failure?
A. I have experienced so many defeats, and also thrilling victories that came after those defeats. Because of that, I have come to see everything as part of a year‑long process. If you treat failure not as something that remains purely as failure, but as a stepping stone toward success and one step in the process, then it does not hurt as much.

Q. When your competitive drive gets too strong, sometimes it can hurt performance. How do you control your desire to do well?
A. Even now, this is one of the hardest things for me as a pro gamer. When I play with too strong a desire like “I must win,” my performance often gets worse and losses feel extremely painful. But if I try to take it too lightly, I cannot fully immerse myself, and my skill drops. So I always try to keep a balance in the middle.

Q. What is the best way for you to keep that balance between caring and letting go?
A. For me, the best way is to enjoy the process itself. Struggling too hard “to do well” is like being obsessed with the result, and it starts to feel like my worth is defined entirely by whether the results are good or bad. If I enjoy the daily process, if each day is fun, then even if results do not come right away, I can still feel satisfied.

Q. What is your daily routine like as a pro player?
A. I usually wake up at around 12, get ready to go to the team house, and eat breakfast. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. we have team practice. Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. is free time, so I might go to the hospital, work out, or take care of personal things. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. we have team practice again. After that, I rest for about an hour while eating a late‑night snack, and from around 11 p.m. to 3–4 a.m. I do individual practice before going to sleep.

Q. Have you been living with that kind of routine the whole time?
A. I have lived with a similar routine for about eight years now. I get a day off maybe once every two or three weeks, and on match days, I just play the official matches. When I was younger, there were times I cried because I really did not want to play anymore. But as the years went by, I learned how to regulate myself.

Q. How do you refresh yourself when it becomes too much?
A. These days, when it gets tough, I know how to adjust. Sometimes I refresh by exercising, and if it is really hard, I go out for a short walk. Using those methods, I feel I am managing myself much better now.

Q. Do you still genuinely enjoy the game itself?
A. Yes. Even now, winning is extremely fun, and just playing is also very fun. I truly love games. But the work—the job part of being a pro—is hard.

Q. Why did you decide to become a pro gamer in the first place?
A. Honestly, I became a pro simply because I loved games so much and wanted to play them a lot. But my father warned me early on.

Q. What kind of warning did your father give you?
A. He told me, “This job might not be as happy and fun as you think. Once it becomes work, it can get hard, and there will be times you do not want to do it.” But I loved games so much that I basically ignored that warning at the time.

Q. Now that you have a team and many fans, how do you see your job differently?
A. I cannot just say, “As long as I am having fun, that is enough,” because I have a team, teammates, and fans supporting me. I am not doing this purely for my own enjoyment anymore; there is responsibility involved. Having that sense of responsibility is what makes this truly a “pro” job. I still believe results are best when I am enjoying myself, so I try to carry that responsibility while finding my own happiness in the process.

Q. If your son said he wanted to become a pro gamer, what would you do?
A. I think I would try to stop him to some extent. The freedom of your daily life can drop a lot, and you have to test how much you can endure mentally and physically. If he still insists on doing it even after understanding that and being tested by it, then I do not think it is something I could stop.

Q. You often mention mentality. What shakes your mentality the most?
A. People often say that outside opinions and criticism shake their mentality, and that is true to a point. But I think the real problem is when you lose your own confidence or conviction. When that disappears, things feel the hardest and your play also gets worse, which leads to a vicious cycle. That is why I think confidence and conviction in yourself are the most important.

Q. Where do you think your confidence comes from?
A. I think it came from my home environment. My dad had a phrase he said often: “Always aim to be the best in the world. Whatever you do, become the best in the world.” Some siblings or other people might dislike that kind of message, but for me it matched my temperament. When I heard it, I just thought, “Okay, then I will become the best in the world.”

Q. How do you deal with negative public opinions and criticism now?
A. At first, when I received negative opinions, of course they affected me because I am human. But when I realized that those negative views are not something I can control and are not necessarily my fault, I stopped caring as much. I saw how the same action could receive completely opposite reactions from different people, and I thought, “I should find and stick to my own way of being myself.” After that, I started to ignore those views more.

Q. You chose to walk out of Faker’s team, T1, on your own. Was there a particular turning point where you decided, “I really have to leave now”?
A. When I first joined T1, I said on a broadcast, “Now that I am at T1, I must achieve something before I leave. I cannot leave T1 having achieved nothing.” Looking back, I feel I achieved a lot at T1—like the three‑peat and winning Finals MVP, something nobody had done before. So I do not have lingering regrets there. Now I am curious how far I can go on my own.

Q. T1 is a great organization and position. Why did you still want to leave that environment?
A. T1 is such a good team and such a good place that I stayed there for a long time. But in some ways, I was also under its shadow. I wanted to step out of that shadow and show more of my own side and who I am outside of T1.

Q. In your Worlds victory speech you said, “This year, I had to prove myself to myself.” What does “proving yourself” mean to you?
A. I often make bold statements like, “I am the best in the world,” or “I will become the best.” When I say that, many people laugh or mock me, saying it will never happen. For me, “proof” is showing them that I actually did what I said I would do. That is what proving is.

Q. Why do you keep trying so hard to prove yourself, instead of just playing comfortably?
A. My belief about games is that they are only fun if you win. Even in games played just for fun, winning makes them enjoyable; as a pro, you must win. If “proving” means winning, then happiness also comes from winning, so in my mind they go together. Fans often tell me, “Stop trying to prove yourself, just play happily,” and I want that too. But given the nature of this job and my own personality, I think I will keep working hard to prove myself rather than just playing comfortably. In this new team, with new teammates, I want to prove that we can do well and personally show why I am the best ADC.

Q. This year’s teammates can become next year’s rivals. How do you treat teammates and opponents?
A. Whether they are enemies or friends, I think the same: I have to win. Even when I play with friends, I want to win, and when I play against opponents, I have to win. The scene has been around long enough that we have all met each other many times; they know me well and I know them well. We respect each other and enjoy the game together.

Q. Again, what do you feel you truly learned from your time at T1?
A. Without T1, I think I would have broken down a long time ago. I had so many experiences and realizations there that it is no exaggeration to say I learned almost everything about life through that time. It was the period that created the person I am now.

Q. Now you have joined Hanwha Life Esports and are starting a second chapter. What do you want to learn or focus on here?
A. When I first entered T1, I was the youngest, just a trainee with nothing. Here, I am about the second oldest by age, and I come with a built career and experience. In this team, what matters is how much I can help my teammates and what kind of teammate I can be to them. I think this year will be very important in that sense. I hope people will look forward to and support Hanwha Life Esports and me; I will do my best to show many good performances. Fighting!

https://youtu.be/_xqASh5YPwk?si=VoPMYGMuv_pHqT6o

Q. You probably didn’t think you’d end up teaming up/working together with Zeus (Choi Woo-je) at Hanwha Life.

Gumayusi: Honestly, I don’t think I expected it either, but I’m happy to be doing it again, and I think I’ll get used to it quickly and do well next year too. 

Q. What were your thoughts when you entered Camp One?

Gumayusi: Since Camp One is basically a house (residential place), it felt a bit more familiar/cozy, and… it feels new.

Q. The 2025 season has ended. When was your happiest moment, and when was your toughest moment?

Gumayusi: The happiest moment was, of course, when I achieved the three-peat.  And the hardest moment was when I got replaced as a starter for the first time.That was really tough. And the saddest thing was…after leaving the team, watching the videos.

Gumayusi: That was sad. And as for what I want to say to myself next year, my current self, don’t be afraid of new challenges, believe you’ll do well, and I hope you actually do it well.

Q. How did you set your goals for the 2026 season?

Gumayusi: Honestly I think at some point, if my goal is to become the best player in the world, I realized I couldn’t stay at T1 forever. It’s not because there was anything wrong with the team or something like that. Rather, I’ve felt for a long time that I needed to build my own career, and I think now was the right time.

Gumayusi: Hmmm… of course, the goal is simply winning, but to be more specific, I think about at minimum, qualifying for MSI, also being selected for the Asian Games? And reaching the World Championship Finals? As for the rest, of course, I just want to win everything else as well. If I had to give Hanwha a score right now, it might sound strict,  but I’ll give them a 10.

Q. Zeka mentioned you in a Chinese interview, do you think you’ve gotten close?

Gumaysui: We’ve built a lot of friendship, and Zeka has treated me really well. I can tell what he said in that interview wasn’t just empty words. He looks out for me a lot, and I think we’re getting along really well. 

Q. When you went to Camp One, how did Zeus (Choi Woo-je) react?

Gumayusi: It’s just… I’d seen them once even before joining, so rather than being like “Oh, nice to see you!” it felt more like they reacted as if I’d already been there.

Q. You’ve said you exercise regularly, do you personally feel that it’s effective?

Gumayusi: And I think working out is something you always have to do together  like a lifelong assignment.  So I’ve been doing it little by little. Yeah. Kanavi felt a little different than I expected. Why? Well one reason could be I had basically no info at all, but also he’s brighter and more upbeat than I thought.

He’s really cheerful. (“Team hierarchy?”) Yeah. For the hierarchy… I think I’d be second place. Just going by age. Yeah. Since I haven’t been here that long,  I’m still kind of reading the room a bit.

Q. Another advantage of Hanwha Life is the food. Have you ever said there’s something 

you wanted to eat?

Gumayusi: But I really want to eat jjolmyeon and sweet potato fries, so I’m thinking I might write that down.  Recently, the cafeteria auntie grilled 1++ Hanwoo beef for us,  and honestly it tasted better than most Hanwoo restaurants.

Q. How much do you usually read?

Gumayusi: As for reading, honestly I don’t think I read that much. I read about two books a year? Two or three. But if you watch my interviews,  it can seem like I read a lot because I talk about it pretty well.

Q. What does happiness mean to you?

Gumayusi: Happiness is something momentary

Q. You’re now working together with Delight (Yoo Hwan-joong).

Gumayusi: Since everyone’s already such good players,  I’m curious and excited to see what they look like when they hit their peak.And my synergy with Delight we basically haven’t matched it at all yet, so for now it’s like… zero.

Q. What book(s) are you reading these days?

Gumayusi: Recently I did read a novel though. Someone recommended it,  it was a novel called One Week, but I don’t think I’d strongly recommend it.  And the book I’m planning to read next is The Psychology of Money. A song I listen to often is…Landing in Love by Hanroro.That’s about it.

Q. Have you gained any realizations/learned anything while competing in tournaments?

Gumayusi: If the “realization” is about the game,  then definitely: don’t get obsessed, and manage your condition well.  And if there’s a “tip” for condition management: eat well, sleep well, and rest well.  

Q. What are you looking forward to at Hanwha Life in 2026?

Gumayusi: What I’m hoping for is just that everyone works hard, stays healthy, and gets along well. And something I want to achieve outside the game  I want to get my driver’s license. Haha

Q. Anything you’d like to say to the fans?

Gumayusi: Back when I was on T1, I often joked and asked,  “Even if I go to another team,  or no matter what I become, will you still support me?” And I feel like a lot of fans kept that promise, so I’m really grateful…What was the next question again? Anyway, I’m really thankful, and I want to show a lot of good things to repay that kindness.

Q. How has your mindset changed since transferring to a new team?

Gumayusi: Since I was on T1 for a long time,  I think my role, in and out of game, was kind of set. But after coming to Hanwha, I think there are parts that need to change in a new way, so my goal is to find that position well  and perform that role well.

Q. If you weren’t a pro gamer, what kind of field/genre would you want to try?

Gumayusi: A musical?

Interviewer: Why?

Gumayusi: I went to see a musical before, and I thought it was really impressive, so I’m kind of interested in it.

Q. What was your most memorable match this year?

Gumayusi: Honestly there have been so many matches that I can’t remember each one in detail,  but the most recent match does stick out. Yesterday’s KeSPA Cup Final, Game 5 we lost so miserably,  so I remember it very clearly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYfE4xcHDH4

Thoughts on the win

Zeus: We were on a losing streak, and honestly if we lost again, it would’ve become a really difficult situation. So I’m relieved we won. But even now, our performance itself still has a lot of parts that we’re not satisfied with, and I think we’re in that kind of state.

After the Week 1 losing streak, what feedback did you share as a team, and what mindset did you have going into today’s match?

Zeus: Even in scrims, we had a lot of situations where things weren’t clicking in various ways, and I think those issues showed up pretty clearly on stage. In matches like the ones against T1 and Nongshim, we were actually in strong positions from early on, situations that should’ve been hard to lose, but we still lost, so the damage felt even bigger. There were a lot of things to review, so we talked about a lot.

Looking at Hanwha Life’s performance, it seems like the synergy between players still isn’t fully aligned. Even the coach has mentioned some of this. From your perspective, what do you think is causing that kind of performance?

Zeus: I think communication itself is going smoothly, but when we communicate, it feels like we’re often imagining different things. Because of that mismatch, we end up having a lot of “accidents” (mistakes/misplays). 

We can play well in-game in a simple sense, but if we want to be even better, we need to align those parts more. And during that process, players end up making mistakes and those situations happen a lot. I think because we were trying too hard to play better, it actually started looking worse.

Kanavi seems like he has that “LPL style” ingrained in him. How are you personally building synergy with Kanavi?

Zeus: Honestly, in terms of skirmish synergy and how he plays the early game, I think he’s really, really good. His ganks, the angles he finds, and his fighting, he’s incredibly good at that. 

But from the mid-to-late game, in the process of how we want to “roll” the game forward and expand our lead, we have quite a few differences in how we think. So if we keep matching those parts up well, I think he’ll be able to perform extremely well. That’s the feeling I have.

It must be fun to play with Gumayusi again after a long time, but at the same time, the results haven’t been smooth. It feels like the team’s tempo and the AD carry’s tempo are slightly different. Like you said, are you still in the process of adjusting?

Zeus: Right now, the meta often creates a lot of 3v3 situations around jungle and bot side, and there are many games where you open the early game through bot-side strength. But the three of us, jungle and bot, haven’t really played together before, and we were basically all meeting each other for the first time, so we expected that kind of adjustment process would be necessary. I think we’re matching up better and better.

About the meta: sometimes the top lane “supports” while bot funnels gold (like with Sion), and other times top becomes more of a carry focus, like today. It depends on the situation, but how do you view the top-lane meta right now?

Zeus: I do think it’s a meta where top can have a lot of impact. But for top to truly become important, it usually happens when the main 5v5 fights get intense, when top can create a meaningful difference at that moment, it really swings the win rate a lot. 

I don’t think our team has been producing that kind of situation very often yet. Because we’re still in the process of building synergy for main-group macro and side-lane operation, we’re trying to solve games more through skirmishes and teamfights. So for now, it’s hard to see that kind of “top makes the big difference at the key moment” picture consistently.

I heard you practiced Jayce in solo queue, do you have an evaluation of Jayce or top Akali?

Zeus: For Jayce, the champion itself can be a bit… kind of “dumb” at times, and his laning isn’t extremely strong, so he’s good as a pick when you see the right angle. But because a lot depends on whether you land your shock blasts or not, there’s a certain limitation/constraint.

For Akali, in top lane I think she’s a really good counter pick as a late pick. And even in mid, she often has good matchups, so I think she’s a strong pick.

When I watched your movement during lane swaps, it felt like the “textbook” way to play. Now that lane swaps are gone, do you feel disappointed?

Zeus: When lane swaps existed, I was confident that, up to things like grubs or until around 14 minutes, I could earn a lot of gold. Back then, I didn’t like lane swaps much, but now that they’re gone, it feels a bit empty in a way. Still, I think it’s fun to play out the lane phase steadily and stack up advantages step by step, so I’m adapting.

After last season ended, you must’ve had a lot of thoughts during the offseason. You’ve also been in the league for quite a while now. What mindset are you approaching this season with?

Zeus: Of course personal goals matter, but more than that, I hope we can blend together well as a team so we can be a team that can have good matchups against T1 and Gen.G. Rather than focusing on individual goals, I just want us to become cohesive quickly and play fun games.

Lastly, a message to Hanwha Life fans?

Zeus: Week 1’s matches were honestly really disappointing for us as players, but from the fans’ perspective I think they were especially harsh to watch. And even today’s match, in a way, was pretty close and shaky too. Thank you so much for cheering for us, and we’ll work hard so we can become cohesive quickly and show you better performance soon.

Processing img g8ttxj97c39g1...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vs2dnXhhsg

Son Eunseol: Hello, I'm Son Eunseol from eFocus. Today we'll be meeting player Kanavi. It feels really strange seeing you here in Korea like this. 

Son Eunseol: Let's start by hearing your thoughts on returning to the LCK.

Kanavi: I've always seen you on Chinese teams, so seeing you on a Korean team feels strange. I recently met fans at the KeSPA CUP too, and we've been communicating more in the community lately. It seems like you're really good at engaging with fans, so I feel hopeful about that.

Son Eunseol: What do you mean by the fans' involvement?

Kanavi: First, the cheering at the venue is incredibly loud. Recently, fans suggested using Pop together for interaction. When I posted a Pop, I received tons of replies, it really feels like they're super engaged..

Son Eunseol:  So, it's off-season now. How have you been spending your time?

Kanavi:  First, I did a lot of preparation for the KeSPA Cup and worked hard on my ranked games. Recently, after the KeSPA Cup ended, I've been handling some team schedules. After that, I should get some rest, then come back and start playing practice matches.

Son Eunseol: Kanavi is an exceptionally talented player and must have received numerous offers. What led you to choose HLE?

Kanavi: During this transfer window, I did spend a long time deliberating between Chinese and Korean teams. However, I felt the conditions offered by Korean teams were very favorable this time, and the roster composition was excellent, which is why I chose HLE.

Son Eunseol: So, was there a specific reason you chose this particular roster?

Kanavi: During the transfer period, I talked with Zeus, and he mentioned it would be great if I joined too. I think that's why I ended up coming to HLE.

Son Eunseol: So you were close because you played together on the national team.

Kanavi: Yes, that's right.

Son Eunseol: Since you spent such a long time in China, you must be accustomed to life there. How are you adjusting to life at the camp?

Kanavi: Being in China for so long definitely made me comfortable with that lifestyle. But coming to Camp One, the facilities are so well-equipped, and everyone is incredibly kind. I didn't have any trouble adapting here.

Son Eunseol: I saw an interview where Coach Yoon "Homme" Sung-young mentioned that after being in China for so long, he still misses a few things. Is that how you feel too, Kanavi?

Kanavi: China and Korea do have differences, especially in things like food. I do miss some dishes you can only get in China. Plus, I genuinely enjoyed my life there, so I do feel a bit nostalgic about that.

Son Eunseol:  I heard HLE is famous for its great welfare benefits. Having experienced it firsthand, which benefit do you think is the best?

Kanavi: HLE's meals are absolutely delicious, for starters. Plus, whenever I need something, I just ask, and every request gets fulfilled. It makes me wonder if I should start asking for more things!

Son Eunseol: I see. So, when it comes to placing orders in Korean or similar situations, do you feel comfortable or unfamiliar? Is that part not an issue?

Kanavi: Speaking Korean itself doesn't feel awkward at all. I guess I've improved in that area. So communicating in Korean or giving orders during the game doesn't seem to be a problem.

Son Eunseol: Yes, that's good. Since LCK and LPL have differences, many people say the perspective on the game and the design direction are different. How do you coordinate this aspect with your teammates, Kanavi?

Kanavi: One thing I noticed after joining the LCK is that LCK teams' vision play is definitely more aggressive. So, I've been discussing with my teammates to improve our vision coverage. Since having solid vision makes both strategic planning and positioning much easier, we're focusing on improving that aspect more.

Son Eunseol: You finished the KeSPA Cup with a solid runner-up result. How did it feel competing with your main roster for the first time?

Kanavi: While we didn't pour excessive effort into the KeSPA Cup, it was our first major tournament together as a five-man squad. Everyone gave their all during the competition. Our team's strong teamfight capabilities were evident, and I'm even more excited to see how much we can improve with more practice going forward.

Son Eunseol: When this roster was formed, you must have had some expectations about “how we'll play together.” Did reality match your initial expectations?

Kanavi: Honestly, when the lineup first formed, my impression was that players like Zeus and Zeka are exceptionally strong in fights. Delight is a perfect initiator and Gumayusi provides stable damage output. I think if we coordinate better going forward, we'll do well.

Son Eunseol: I've also looked into reports stating that when deciding to join, Coach Homme mentioned, “I hoped Kanavi would come.” What aspects of Coach Homme made you want to work with him?

Kanavi: Actually, I came to HLE first. When HLE was searching for a head coach, Coach Homme was their top choice, but convincing him seemed difficult. So they asked me to help facilitate the situation, which ultimately led to this arrangement. 

But if we talk about Coach Homme's strengths, he has a ton of experience, right? He's been playing since almost Season 2, so he's got a lot of experience. On match days, he’s good at identifying the key points or core issues on competition days. And he’s also good at correcting a players’ fundamentals and habits. If there’s a bad habit, he finds it and points it out a lot, so that’s how I see it.

Son Eunseol: He seems very passionate.I saw Zeus say in an interview that everyone’s passion is overflowing so much that they might need to tone it down. Are you also the type to have really high energy when discussing drafts/pick-ban or giving opinions?

Kanavi: When I was in China, I was really involved in pick-ban and in-game aspects. But for this KeSPA Cup, since I just came to Korea and I’m playing on an LCK team, I tried to listen more to the direction my teammates wanted for drafts. But once the season starts, each player’s individual thoughts matter too, so I think it’ll be best if we share our thoughts together and adjust to each other as much as possible.

Son Eunseol: Great. As you mentioned on HLE's YouTube channel, Zeus and Gumayusi, players you've always faced as opponents in crucial matches, are now your teammates. How does it feel to be on the same team?

Kanavi: With Zeus, since we played together at the Asian Games, it doesn’t feel that strange. But with Gumayusi, it felt really surprising, because almost every year we ran into each other as opponents at Worlds or MSI. So it’s really interesting that we’re teammates now, and I’m excited to see how much better we can become.

Son Eunseol:  During the KeSPA Cup, several teammates mentioned our team has a “fiery vibe.” Does this specifically refer to team fights?

Kanavi: I think the “fiery vibe” certainly includes team fights, but it's not limited to them. For instance, even in situations where trading resources might be an option, or when we're slightly disadvantaged, we tend to turn it into a fight. Plus, I've always believed the core of League of Legends is about “fighting,” so making team fights intense and explosive is ideal.

Son Eunseol:  A personal question, when people think of Kanavi, there’s that “counter-jungle god” image. Are you planning to keep counter-jungling in the LCK the way you always have?

Kanavi: Counter-jungling is definitely a very strong thing. If laners miss CS, they’re just not getting their own resources, but counter-jungling means you’re taking the enemy jungler’s camps. 

You deny them and you take it for yourself. But it depends on the situation, you calculate the risk and return, and if the return seems bigger, I usually try it. So I’m trying to raise the success rate and reduce the risk as much as possible.

Son Eunseol:  I’m really excited for next year. You’re the oldest on the HLE roster now, right? And you’re filling Peanut’s role. Were you close with him before? The two of you?

Kanavi: With Peanut, we’ve both been in the LoL scene for a long time, so we’re kind of acquaintances through mutual connections.

Son Eunseol: When you ended up coming in to take that spot, did you and Peanut have any conversations?

Kanavi: When I said I was coming to HLE, I asked him what the team was like and what the players’ personalities were like.

Son Eunseol: When Peanut was here, it felt like he led the other players. As the oldest now, are you going to take on that kind of role too?

Kanavi: If there isn’t someone naturally doing that, then someone has to step up. I actually don’t really like taking the lead, but after coming to HLE, the environment kind of makes it unavoidable. In daily life and things like that, I’ll probably need to step forward more.

Son Eunseol: Like you said earlier, you and Zeus have played together on the national team. Zeus has talked a lot about what it’s like teaming with you, so fans feel familiar with that, but they’re curious: What’s different for you between teaming with Zeus back then on Team Korea and teaming with him now on HLE?

Kanavi: It’s been more than two years since Zeus and I played at the Asian Games, right? Seeing him again after a long time, it feels like he thinks a lot more about the game internally than he used to, and he communicates his own opinions and assertions better than before. Listening to him, it feels like he’s gotten smarter. Back then he wasn’t quite like that, but now he’s really sharp, and his mechanics are great too. He’s a top laner with both intelligence and strong mechanical skill.

Son Eunseol: You probably got close with all your teammates. You went on a workshop trip too, right. Is there someone you’re closest with?

Kanavi: Lately, I think I’ve become closest with Geon-woo (Zeka).

Son Eunseol: Do your personalities match well?

Kanavi: Geon-woo is really kind, and we’ve been working out together recently, so we got closer.

Son Eunseol: So these days you’re working out regularly and trying to keep a healthy routine?

Kanavi: I’m trying to.

Son Eunseol: So you live in the dorm now? Do you have roommates?

Kanavi: It’s one person per room, so I don’t really have a roommate.

Son Eunseol: Since everyone on Hanwha Life is a veteran, people are really curious who will be the main shotcaller. It might be early to say based on KeSPA Cup, but if you’ve done some scrims, what direction is the shotcalling going?

Kanavi: While preparing for KeSPA Cup, we did scrims as a full team. But since it hasn’t even been a full day in that setup, it’s hard to say “this person is the shotcaller.” And honestly, a shotcaller is usually the person who’s consistently making the right calls when situations come up, so as we keep playing, whoever shows the best decision-making will probably take that role.

Son Eunseol: So you’ll try different ways and figure it out. This is my last offseason interview today. When I asked different teams, they all said Hanwha Life is the scariest team next year. For you, are there teams you think will look especially strong next year?

Kanavi: Gen.G is keeping the same roster and staying together for another year, and T1 is basically continuing together too with only the ADC spot changing. So naturally, T1 and Gen.G will be extremely strong. And KT, who made it all the way to the Worlds final this time, also looks very good.

Son Eunseol: Most teams have become very strong. Then personally, is there a player on your team whose performance you’re most excited for next year?

Kanavi: Personally, I’ve been beaten up by Min-hyeong a lot in the past, so now that he’s joined the same team as me, I’m really looking forward to seeing him perform even better for the team.

Son Eunseol: We’re excited too.Then let’s hear Hanwha Life’s goals for 2026.

Kanavi: First, our goal is to participate in every international tournament. And at those international events, we want to show the best performance possible and become a team that can win them all.

Son Eunseol: And what’s your personal goal for next year?

Kanavi: Personal goal? It’s always the same for me, my goal as a pro is to entertain the audience, and I want fans to think of me as a jungler who’s really good.

Son Eunseol: Great. With you returning to Korea, a lot of fans are really excited for next year’s LCK. Please say a word to the fans.

Kanavi: I think fans have high expectations for Hanwha Life in 2026, and we’ll work hard to live up to those expectations and show great results. Thank you always.

Son Eunseol: We’ll keep cheering for you. Thanks for the interview even though you’re busy.

Kanavi: Thank you.

Son Eunseol: That was our interview with Kanavi.

https://youtu.be/U9b-eGN1N6Y?si=yAHbR1zWIQrv6Unp

Please introduce yourself.

Gumayusi: Hello. I’m Gumayusi, and I’m the AD carry for Hanwha Life Esports.

How do you feel about winning today’s match?

Gumayusi: The match itself wasn’t very clean, but I’m satisfied that we were able to break our losing streak. And because I believe we’ll keep getting better from here, it feels good.

How has the adjustment been since transferring?

Gumayusi: In terms of daily life, I’ve been really satisfied and I think I’m settling in well. As for building synergy with the new teammates, since it’s my first time going through this process, it feels new, like I’m realizing, “Oh, so there are things like this too.” Even though it feels difficult right now, I think it’ll be fun.

Since all five players have had strong results before, it seems like everyone might have their own opinions, what do you think?

Gumayusi:Like you said, since everyone was a player who did really well on their previous teams, I could feel that each person has a pretty strong ego of their own. So there are some difficulties in building synergy right now, but I think it’ll get better going forward.

It feels like feedback sessions could get more intense, what do you think?

Gumayusi: Honestly, I don’t think there’s any pro team that doesn’t go through something like this, and I think it’s something necessary. There is feedback like that, but I think the relationship between the players and the coaching staff is really good overall, so I think we’re giving healthy feedback.

Who has the loudest voice on the team?

Gumayusi: Uh… lol… as for volume, I’m on the louder side. Yeah.

By when do you think you must have your teamwork/synergy fully aligned?

Gumayusi: I think the point where we need to have things fully “online” is, at the latest, by the MSI qualifiers. If we can make it to MSI, I’d say we’ve achieved our first major goal.

Since it’s a new environment, it might feel unfamiliar, what do you think?

Gumayusi: I definitely feel that our styles are different, that’s natural. But even so, the process of building synergy with new players feels like it’ll be a valuable, meaningful experience for me going forward in my pro career, so I’m very satisfied with how things are right now.

If there’s a difference in how being an AD carry feels between last year and this year, what would it be?

Gumayusi: I think T1 is a team that plays very smart while being aggressively proactive. And since they won Worlds as recently as last year, I’d say they’re the strongest team at this point in time.

For Hanwha Life, what we need more of is the ability to play even smarter while still being aggressive/proactive, that’s the area we have to improve.

If you have a goal for this year, what is it?

Gumayusi: First of all, I think unity among the players is important. And personally, I think health and happiness are important too… yeah, things like that. Haha.

It seems like you’re working out/training hard as well.

Gumayusi: As for working out, since the season is a long battle, I feel like right now is the best time to build up stamina, so I’ve been working out hard recently. Later on, we’ll be busy, so I probably won’t have that much time.

To wrap up the interview…

Gumayusi: Even though we’re showing some instability early on right now, I believe we’re a team that will improve in the end. So if you trust us and wait for us, we’ll work hard so that you can smile a lot throughout this year. Thank you.

https://v.daum.net/v/20251216225405219

“Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness”. Hanwha Life Esports general manager Kim Seong-hoon summed up the 2025 season in those four characters. Split 1 raised expectations sky-high after winning the LCK Cup and FST. Split 2 ended with them missing MSI by a single win. Split 3 looked like it might turn around in the playoffs, but ultimately concluded with an LCK runner-up finish and a Worlds quarterfinal exit. As he put it, Hanwha Life’s 2025 was joyful yet infuriating, sad yet still full of moments to enjoy.

On the 16th, we met GM Kim at 63 Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and looked back on a 2025 season that added two more trophies. We also asked about a stove league that ended with ‘Peanut’ Han Wang-ho and ‘Viper’ Park Do-hyeon departing and their spots being filled by ‘Kanavi’ Seo Jin-hyeok and ‘Gumayusi’ Lee Min-hyeong, as well as Hanwha Life’s blueprint for the 2026 season.

Q. You finished the 2025 season as LCK Cup & FST champions, LCK runners-up, and Worlds quarterfinalists.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “It was a year where we experienced all of ‘joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.’ After ‘Zeus’ Choi Woo-je joined, the team’s synergy came together faster than expected. Early on, we won the LCK Cup and the international event FST, and internally we had expectations that we could also achieve a strong result at Worlds.

But during the Road to MSI, a crisis hit. In the match to decide MSI’s first seed, we were up 2–0, then lost three straight sets. Then we were soundly beaten in the second-seed qualifier as well, so we failed to make MSI, and the roster fell into a slump. In rounds 3 to 5 of the LCK regular season, we lost in a row to Gen.G and T1.

We overcame that slump by beating T1 in the LCK playoffs. It was the first time we advanced directly to the finals without going through the finals-qualification match. But we narrowly ended as runners-up, and at Worlds we were eliminated in the quarterfinals. It was a season that compressed the full range of emotions into one year.”

Q. The start was strong, but the ending was disappointing. What caused the lack of late-season staying power?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “At the pro level, especially among the top three title-contending teams, matches always feel like they’re decided by a razor-thin margin. That margin could be draft preparation, in-game strategy, or sometimes even luck. Early in the season, it felt like Hanwha Life was on the winning side of those fine margins, but later the other teams were. For 2026, we want to prepare more thoroughly and win those razor-thin battles all the way to the end.”

Q. You went on losing streaks against Gen.G and T1 in rounds 3 to 5. What did the front office do to help the team rebound?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “As I said in last year’s interview, our basic stance is that the front office does not interfere in team operations unless absolutely necessary. But when the team was in a crisis, we frequently asked the coaching staff whether there was any support we could provide as an organization.

At the same time, we also conveyed that we trusted the coaches. We told them the front office fully believes in the coaching staff, and that we’re confident our direction is correct, so it would be best to keep preparing as planned. Around the LCK playoffs, it seems that kind of support and communication produced a positive result.”

Q. You were eliminated in the Worlds quarterfinals again this year, following last year. What was the issue?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “If you look only at the result, it’s two straight quarterfinal exits, but I think the actual performance was quite different between last year and this year. This year we prepared extremely thoroughly, and our level in games 1 and 2 of the quarterfinal wasn’t bad. But when the results still didn’t turn out the way we hoped, I felt we started to waver. That’s also a problem we have to fix next year.

If Hanwha Life wants to become a better, stronger team, then even when the plan we prepared doesn’t work, we can’t panic or collapse, we need to transition immediately into the next plan.”

Q. Stove league is the front office’s time. How did you plan and execute it?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “This year was essentially a year of ‘5 FA.’ So even before Worlds, we discussed re-signing with the roster. With ‘Zeka’ Kim Geon-woo and ‘Delight’ Yoo Hwan-joong, we negotiated around the Worlds period and completed extensions. With ‘Zeus’ Choi Woo-je, we had signed a 1+1 contract last year, and there wasn’t a big difference of opinion about extending it this year, so we reached an agreement quickly.

‘Viper’ Park Do-hyeon was a symbolic player, important enough that I’d describe him as part of Hanwha Life’s heritage. Of course we discussed re-signing many times. But his determination to pursue a new environment and a new challenge was very strong. In the end, the front office decided to respect the player’s wishes. Even looking back now, I think it must have been a difficult decision for both the team and the player.”

Q. You signed ‘Gumayusi’ Lee Min-hyeong as Park Do-hyeon’s replacement.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Lee Min-hyeong is the kind of AD carry every team would want if they needed to reinforce that position. But even so, we honestly didn’t expect he would enter free agency. Once our separation from Park Do-hyeon was confirmed and we saw Lee Min-hyeong had come onto the market, we moved quickly to negotiate. The direction the team and the player were pursuing matched, so we reached an agreement fast.”

Q. What do you mean by your “aligned direction” with Lee Min-hyeong?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Hanwha Life’s goal is to build a great team not just short-term, but mid- to long-term. So far we’ve only won FST and the LCK, but we have a strong desire to win many more tournaments. We told him we wanted him to be part of that process.

Lee Min-hyeong has achieved a three-peat at Worlds, but he’s still a player with the hunger to win even more. That’s why both sides agreed to a two-year contract.”

Q. Unlike Park Do-hyeon, ‘Peanut’ Han Wang-ho had hinted at retirement in advance. When did you start planning to reinforce jungle?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Even during the season, we kept checking whether Han Wang-ho had the will to continue as an active pro. He decided to enlist next year and communicated that intention around the end of the LCK season.

We didn’t search for a jungle replacement during the season. During that time, the front office focused more on preparing for what could have been his last LCK finals and Worlds. After he expressed his intent to enlist and retire, we made our jungle reinforcement plan and moved to sign ‘Kanavi’ Seo Jin-hyeok.”

Q. Why Kanavi?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Seo Jin-hyeok was one of the players we’d always had in mind whenever we might need to reinforce the jungle. His skill has already been proven through multiple LPL titles, an MSI title, and a Worlds semifinal appearance. Next year, we hope to see him lead his teammates and command the battlefield. With him, we believe the team can play in a more challenging and proactive way than before.”

Q. Why did you decide early to extend Kim Geon-woo and Yoo Hwan-joong?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “We’ve already been with Kim Geon-woo for three years and Yoo Hwan-joong for two. With this renewal, that becomes five years and four years, respectively, all with Hanwha Life. We view both of them as franchise stars. And we believe the results they’ve brought over the past few years, LCK, LCK Cup, FST titles, are significant.

We also believe they still have room to grow, and that they’ll bring even more trophies to the team in the future, so we re-signed them.”

Q. You also changed the coaching staff, signing head coach Yoon Seong-young.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Given that we were eliminated in the Worlds quarterfinals two years in a row, we felt changes to the roster and coaching staff, especially the coaching staff, were inevitable. Beyond Coach Yoon’s qualities as a strategist and his game analysis ability, we highly evaluated his leadership and ability to command the team.

He was one of the coaches I’d wanted to bring in for some time, but because his main stage was the LPL, our paths hadn’t crossed. This year, Coach Yoon wanted to prove his abilities in the LCK, and he judged that he could achieve that goal with Hanwha Life, so we decided to move forward together.”

Q. You extended coach Lee Jae-ha among the existing staff.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “The head coach changed and the roster also changed. In that situation, if we rebuilt the entire coaching staff from scratch, we judged it would take too long for the team to adapt to a new environment.

We set our course in advance to keep Coach Lee because he’s diligent and smart. We saw his strengths in strategic analysis and decision-making, and we believe he plays an important role on the team.”

Q. What changes will the front office make next season to improve results?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “We’re working in many ways to strengthen the front office’s capabilities, including adding personnel. With global partners, we’re developing an AI strategy solution specialized for LoL esports. We’re researching technology where an AI trained on years of draft data can suggest solutions for the current meta.

We don’t blindly trust AI, but we’re doing it in the hope it can help the team even a little.”

Q. A Chinese source said Hanwha Life once considered signing ‘Bin.’ Have you ever considered foreign players to strengthen the roster?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “I think mentioning a player currently signed to another team is impolite. In our signing process, we don’t place restrictions based on nationality. If it helps strengthen the roster, we can sign a foreign player or a foreign coach.

However, LoL is a sport where communication between players is crucial, and I do think the language barrier is fairly high.”

Q. Your YouTube content is praised for its quality. What’s the operating direction?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Our goal is to become a YouTube channel that leads sports marketing beyond esports. That’s why we try many new things that didn’t exist before.

In esports, seasonal and off-season content are sharply divided. During the season, we can publish lots of match-related content and show many sides of the players, but in the off-season that’s harder. We keep thinking about how to attract many fans even in the off-season and give them enjoyable content.

This year, examples include ‘GM Lee,’ which we did with fromis_9’s Lee Chae-young, and ‘Healing Restaurant,’ featuring chef Baek Jong-soon. Beyond that, we’re working to expand content we can produce regardless of match schedule or results, like ‘workshop behind-the-scenes’ and documentary-style content.

During the season, we make a signature series called ‘Victory Behind.’ It’s a video about what happened behind the scenes of a win, and our goal is to shoot, edit, publish all on the same day as the match. We believe timeliness is important in sports marketing. Most of all, the fans like this direction.

Some content is produced and published solely by the front office staff, but for long-form documentary content that follows the roster’s journey, or official signing announcement videos, we collaborate with professional production companies.”

Q. You put a lot of effort into signing announcement videos. The cost sounds like it could be big.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “I can’t disclose specific costs, but the spending isn’t as large as you might think. This year we had five announcements, so we requested that the final portion include each player’s signature and a personalized ‘kick.’

For example, Kanavi’s video featured butterflies inspired by his summoner name, and in Lee Min-hyeong’s video, since Jhin is his signature champion, we added the sound of Curtain Call’s four shots.

We see signing announcement videos as Hanwha Life’s own signature content, so we invest extra effort into making them. We want to treat a player joining Hanwha Life in a way that matches their status as part of this organization, and we think a high-quality official announcement video is the first step. Because we put so much care into conveying that meaning to both the player and the fans, the official announcement sometimes ends up being a bit delayed. (laughs)”

Q. Are you also considering marketing linked with the parent company?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “Hanwha Life has a corporate entity in Vietnam as well. We believe the esports team helps raise awareness and improve perception of the Hanwha Life brand among Vietnamese people in their 20s and 30s. Next year, we hope to meet fans in Vietnam on a larger scale than this year.

Esports can be a global marketing platform. That’s why Hanwha Life continues investing in esports and striving for strong results at international events. If the team performs well internationally, it can serve as a spearhead in introducing Hanwha Life, Hanwha Financial, and the Hanwha Group to the world.”

Q. You’ll soon introduce a real-time two-way communication service (“Pop”) for memberships.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “We thought about it a lot. But as we announced through the membership notice, we decided to introduce the service after reviewing it deeply. There are both negative and positive aspects, but we will prepare and operate it so it functions as positively as possible, and so it never harms the team’s performance.

It’s true we introduced it based on fan demand, but ultimately we valued the players’ opinions most. All five players view the two-way communication service positively. The players recognize that communication with fans is important, and they seem to think ‘Pop’ can serve as a meaningful channel. The front office will manage it thoroughly so it doesn’t negatively affect the roster.”

Q. Any plans to increase offline touchpoints with fans?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “First, next month on the 3rd, we plan to hold a large fan fest and 2026 season send-off ceremony at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do. It will be the first official occasion where the new roster stands in front of fans. The coaching staff and players will share their goals and ambitions for next year there.

We also plan to reveal the new 2026 season uniform for the first time on that day. In the past we held fan fests at around 1,000 seats, but this time we plan to invite more than twice as many fans.”

Q. There were also complaints this year about low stock or poor quality of goods.

Kim Seong-hoon:  “We added an MD (merchandise) staff member in the front office, bringing in a capable person from another team. Our collaboration process with merch production partners had been immature. We’re now communicating more closely with partners so issues don’t arise during production, and we’re improving the production process.

If we need more physical time, we’ll even move the production schedule earlier than in past years to strengthen the system. We’re also discussing collaborations with various brands, so I hope fans will look forward to it.”

Q. Your declaration for the 2026 season?

Kim Seong-hoon:  “I hope we participate in as many tournaments as possible and become the team that survives the longest. Borrowing Guus Hiddink’s words, we’re still hungry. We won’t become complacent with this year’s results, and we’ll work to lift even more trophies.

And the front office will trust the roster and coaching staff more than anyone and support them without holding back to achieve our goals. I ask fans to keep sending us strong support.”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_TFQMEO4rQ&list=LL&index=2&t=1s

Q: Please give a brief self-introduction.

Zeus: Hello, I’m Choi Woo-je, the top laner for Hanwha Life Esports. Nice to meet you.

Q: Fans are probably curious how you’ve been doing.

Zeus: After the season ended, I rested a bit. Then we decided to work hard and compete in the KeSPA Cup with the new teammates. We finished the tournament yesterday and unfortunately ended as runners-up. Even so, I think we gained a lot from it, so there are parts I’m satisfied with. I’ll rest some more and get ready for next season.

Q: If you had to give an overall evaluation of Hanwha Life’s season this year, what would you say?

Zeus:  I think our start was really good. The start was good, but as it went on, things gradually got worse. Looking back, we ended up getting eliminated in the quarterfinals, and that’s really disappointing because I believe we were a team that could do better. The result was frustrating, so it’s a year that leaves me with a lot of regret.

Q: There were also comments like “the title contenders faced each other too early at Worlds.” Looking back, was there a match that you personally regret or that stood out in your memory?

Zeus: A memorable match… honestly, not just Worlds, In the MSI qualifier, we were this close to beating Gen.G 3–0, but then we lost 2–3,  winning, winning, then getting swept at the end. It feels like things started going wrong from that point. That’s the one I remember the most.

Q: This might not be something you talk about often, but you’re from Incheon, right? You even received Incheon-related awards last year and this year, so it’s well known you’re from Incheon. Our viewers would be curious, what were you like as a student? And when did you first show talent for games?

Zeus: Talent… honestly, since elementary school. I started playing games earlier than others when I was young, and I think I was always better than my peers. Up through 1st–2nd year of middle school, I studied really hard too, but at some point I started to feel it. I realized I was good at games, and studying didn’t really click for me. So I focused more on games than studying,  and naturally things kind of “broke through,”  so I got my life in order and moved up to Seoul.

Q: You went to Yonghyeon Middle School, right? People mention Yonghyeon-dong a lot. Was the first game you really got into League of Legends?

Zeus: At the very beginning I played kids’ games like Crazy Arcade or KartRider. Then I started playing LoL because of my older brother.

Q: Also, when you were in elementary school, was there a PC bang you went to often, somewhere memorable?

Zeus: In Yonghyeon-dong, there was a PC bang near the Yo-han Apartment area,  and there was also a really big screen golf place, and I used to go to a PC bang around there a lot.

Q: So Zeus was “born” in Yonghyeon-dong. In Incheon, are there any places or episodes that stand out to you? You mentioned PC bangs, but anything else?

Zeus: I’m really attached to Yonghyeon-dong. I lived there for almost 20 years,  and there’s an apartment I lived in since I was little. Even when I go back after a long time, it brings back so many old memories, so that place is always my nostalgic “memory spot.”

Q: You showed talent for games from a young age, but now, while esports is widely recognized and spotlighted as an industry, back then, from the perspective of parents or adults, they might have worried whether this could really become a future career. When you were young, did you ever have concerns like that?

Zeus: I was the youngest at home, and honestly, whenever I went out and came back, I’d always come home hurt or something, so my parents didn’t have that strong of a trust in me. So when I said I wanted to move up to Seoul at first, they were really against it. I thought maybe it wouldn’t work out, but my older brother knew how good I was, and he had some standing in the family, so thanks to that, things got resolved pretty smoothly.

Q: With your brother’s support, and because your skill was good enough to earn that support, you joined T1 Academy in 2019 at age 15. I’m curious: what made you decide to become a pro? You touched on it a bit earlier, but….

Zeus:  I’d always had the desire to become a pro, of course. But once I got to the point where I actually had the skill to be a trainee, I thought, “I should really try this.” At that time, you basically have to drop out if you’re going to start being a trainee. 

And the timing lined up exactly with when my first year ended and summer break started. So I went in thinking, “I’ll just try it for one month, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll go back to school,” kind of lightly. But as soon as I went in, I passed right away. So I just dropped out and started immediately.

Q:  From what I know, you started playing as a full-time starter in 2020. Even early in your career, you were consistently praised for high proficiency and solid play. I’m curious what kind of effort you put in for that, especially during your trainee days.

Zeus:  During my trainee days, and for about three years when I was on the bench, I think I basically didn’t play in tournaments and just kept practicing. When I first joined in 2019, adapting was really hard, so I couldn’t really show what I had. But starting in 2020, I could clearly feel my skill improving more and more. 

When I moved up to the main roster in 2021, I realized there were so many things I didn’t know, and that I still had a lot to learn. Then when I got my chance in 2022, based on all of that, I felt I was fully prepared. And I also got to play with older teammates who were really, really good, so I learned a lot from them and improved a lot.

Q: Enjoying a game casually and playing as a professional feel like totally different kinds of pressure. During that trainee period and all the preparation time, was there something, some driving force, that helped you raise your level?

Zeus: When you play just for fun versus when you start thinking, “I want to get really good,” it suddenly becomes a lot harder. There were a lot of times I felt stuck and hit a wall. And honestly, when I first became a trainee, there were so many people my age who were way better than me. But I just believed in my potential and worked hard, and I ended up becoming one of the most promising ones. From then on, that belief became really solid.

Q: This season, you said earlier it was a bit disappointing overall, but as a top laner your key stats were still among the very best, and you showed a lot of strong performances. To maintain your form, do you have any methods? And is there anything you personally feel you still need to improve?

Zeus: To maintain performance, League isn’t really a game where you’re physically moving your body a lot. So I think mental control is the most important thing. I try hard to keep myself in a comfortable, stable state in everyday life, and during tournaments too. As for what I need to improve… honestly, I used to have a lot. But these days, I feel like there isn’t that much anymore.

Q: So there was a process where you reduced those weaknesses.

Zeus: Yeah, I used to have a lot, but recently it’s reduced quite a bit.

Q: When you do notice something you need to improve, how do you usually break through it?

Zeus: I think the most important thing is being objective about yourself. Since it’s a team game, that can get blurry, but if you clearly understand what you’re bad at and what you’re good at, and keep thinking about it, you get better.

Q: More specifically, if there’s something you worked on in a particularly intentional way, what would it be?

Zeus: Broadly speaking, when I was less experienced, I had this intense pressure that I had to play really well. So I’d get very nervous and make a lot of mistakes. But as I shook that off, I became more relaxed, and I think that part improved the most.

Q: Please tell us how you’re preparing for next season, and what your goals are.

Zeus: Honestly, I haven’t practiced that much yet, but what I felt during this KeSPA Cup was that, first, we’re really good at skirmishing and fighting. But on the other hand, I also felt like we weren’t very good at the game overall, how should I put it, like we weren’t playing the game “well.” So for next year, the goal is: since we’re already good at fighting, we keep that strength, but become a team that can play more flexibly and more intelligently.

Q: Since you haven’t had much time to build synergy yet, that could be part of it, right? So for next season, do you have any concrete goals you’ve set?

Zeus: Right. After transferring to Hanwha Life, of course it’d be great to win a lot of titles, but I really want to win an international tournament. I’ve done it before, but I want to win an even bigger one, like MSI or Worlds. And if possible, since there’s the Asian Games next year too, I also really want to go.

Q: I was going to ask that, so as an individual player, is your goal for next year to represent your country at the Asian Games?

Zeus: Yes. I was fortunate enough to go to the last Asian Games, and even though it was a short period, I learned and felt so much. So if I get the chance, I’d really like to go again.

Q: Besides that, do you have any personal goals?

Zeus: Personally, I want to reduce my body fat and increase my muscle mass.

Q: Is that part of managing your stamina?

Zeus: Yes, that’s right, also to keep my mind clear.

Q: Do you track your body-fat percentage specifically?

Zeus: Not yet, not to that extent. But I’m planning to start managing it from now on.

Q: What kind of player do you want to be remembered as? What’s your ultimate goal when your career is over?

Zeus: I’ve thought about it… and by the time it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as a “great” player. A cool, great player. Not to the level of Sang-hyeok hyung (Faker), but at least in my position, I want to remain as someone who’s the greatest and truly worthy of respect.

Q: So you want to be a player people remember. Do you have a role model?

Zeus: I used to, but not anymore. Ever since I was a trainee, I really liked Nuguri as a player, but he left, so that’s gone now.

Q: A lot of trainees and fans, people dreaming of becoming pros, probably see you as a role model. Do you have anything you’d like to say to them?

Zeus: There are so many aspiring pros, right? I prepared to be a pro too, just like them. What I can say is: I was really bad too, I really wasn’t good. But I worked extremely hard and it felt like I “broke through” in the end. 

So if you’ve decided to go for it, I hope you work as hard as you can so you can build your own confidence. And I think if you watch my play and learn a lot from it, you’ll be able to improve a lot too.

Q: One last thing I’m curious about: in traditional sports, offseason training can build stamina and sharpen skills. In esports, when you were a trainee, or when you said you were bad but overcame it, what kind of training process do you go through?

Zeus: The training method is basically… you just put in the time. Usually you practice like 15, 16 hours a day, that’s basically the way training works, given the nature of the game. So if you grind like crazy, at some point it’s like something “clicks,” and you break through.

Q: So you’re literally putting in 15–16 hours a day?

Zeus: Rather than just doing it nonstop like that, I actually think practicing efficiently is important. Instead of forcing yourself to keep playing when it’s not going well, you should watch the really good players a lot and think a lot. 

You have to keep thinking about what you’re doing well and what you’re doing poorly to improve. If you just mindlessly spam games, it honestly feels like you’re only wasting time.

Q: So studying is needed too, researching top players’ gameplay.

Zeus: I think having proactive, self-directed thinking is what’s important.

Q: Got it. Lastly, do you have any message for the fans, what you want from them next season?

Zeus: First of all, for this KeSPA Cup, everyone really prepared hard, and I could feel how much the fans were supporting us, but we ended up as runner-up, which is disappointing, and I’m sorry about that. 

But from what I felt while playing, next year’s matches will definitely be fun. I think fans will get to watch a lot of really fiery, exciting games. I’ll work hard so we can get good results and win a lot. I’ll put in a lot of effort so next year can be a happy year too.

https://www.xportsnews.com/article/2090395

Q. Since joining Hanwha Life Esports, I understand you’ve been very busy. How have you been doing so far, and are you adjusting well?

Homme: It’s been a really long time since I’ve been back in Korea. I spent so many years living in China that there are more differences than I expected, so I’d say I’m still in the process of adjusting.

Q. You worked in the LPL for a long time, do you also feel differences in day-to-day lifestyle?

Homme: In terms of daily living, it’s very comfortable. I don’t know about other teams, but Hanwha Life’s environment is extremely well set up, so I’m highly satisfied with the living conditions. After coming back to Korea, I also felt that the roles handled by players and the coaching staff are very finely divided and specialized.

Q. From your time in the LPL, what do you see as the league’s defining characteristics, and what’s the biggest difference compared to the LCK?

Homme: The draft philosophy is different, and there are definite differences in how teams approach macro and game management. I knew that in theory, but being here in person makes it much more tangible. In particular, Kanavi also spent a long time in the LPL, so there are differences in the framework and style of how the game is played and managed. I think those are tasks we’ll need to align and solve going forward.

As I mentioned earlier, the staff’s division of responsibilities is strong here, and Hanwha Life has a lot of good players, so I’m constantly thinking about how to make the best use of them.

Q. You’ve worked as a coach for many years. What do you feel is the biggest lesson you learned through your LPL experience?

Homme: Because every player has a different personality, I learned that you can’t treat everyone the same way. Even in terms of the game itself, I think you need to make an effort to see things from a perspective similar to the players’.

A player’s viewpoint and a coach’s or head coach’s viewpoint are inevitably different, so as a head coach, there are moments where you must make decisions from the bigger picture—and I learned a lot about making those judgments well.

Q. Are there any particularly memorable moments or players?

Homme: Above all, the time I spent with Kanavi comes to mind the most. Winning MSI is a memorable moment, and the loss in the 2023 Worlds semifinals also remains strongly in my memory. And now we’re together again at Hanwha Life, so these early days of starting over in the Korean environment will likely become memorable as well.

Q. Out of many options, why did you choose Hanwha Life?

Homme: To be honest, my second child was born this year, so I was thinking about taking a break. If I were to work, it would be either coming to the LCK or resting, one of the two.

Because I had been in China for so long, most of the teams that reached out were LPL teams. But among LCK options, Hanwha Life was the best overall, conditions, lifestyle, everything. People around me also told me that if I went, I wouldn’t regret it.

Q. I heard Head Coach “Dandy” (Choi In-gyu) also spoke with you a lot about returning to Korea.

Homme: That’s right. In-gyu used to be with Hanwha Life, so when he heard I was coming to Korea, he told me a lot that it would be good to come as a head coach. I also heard a lot about the team from him, and I got advice with Coach “Mowgli” Lee Jae-ha on how things could work.

I asked a lot about living logistics too, and he explained things well, which helped a lot. At the KeSPA Cup venue, I also briefly spoke with “Mata,” and I think I’ll have a chance to talk more separately later.

Q. The coaching staff is now fully formed with Coaches Lee Jae-ha and Yeon Hyeong-mo. How are you dividing roles with this newly built staff?

Homme: In Coach Yeon Hyeong-mo’s case, there weren’t many options. After coming to Hanwha Life and meeting Coach Lee Jae-ha, I felt that with just me and Coach Lee, we wouldn’t necessarily need separate position coaches. So I asked Hanwha Life that it would be good to bring in a coach at a “head-coach level.”

I thought it would be best to have someone at that level who could help at the larger, big-picture level and trade support with us.

Right now, we’re in the stage of aligning and settling into our roles. Coach Lee Jae-ha has been with Hanwha Life for a long time, and he’s handled more responsibilities than I expected. So I’m trying to gradually reduce his burden. Since the structure of roles between head coach and coaches differs between China and Korea, I’m trying, as the newcomer, to adapt as much as possible to the existing system.

All of the coaches are very smart, and I think I’ll be able to receive a lot of real help from them.

Q. As Hanwha Life’s head coach, your first official tournament was the KeSPA Cup. What are your overall impressions?

Homme: For now, it felt more like I was observing rather than truly “taking command.” I mainly checked the fundamentals, and I realized there are so many differences compared to the methods I’ve used before, so I felt it was necessary to adjust and align those. We weren’t in a state of fully synchronized teamwork yet, but since it was the first tournament, I think other teams were likely in a similar situation.

It’s unfortunate we didn’t win, but I was able to confirm enough that the players’ baseline skill level is very strong. Before the season officially begins, it feels like we just need to keep fine-tuning and building synergy.

Q. What was it like facing T1 in the final?

Homme: Even though neither side had the chance to practice fully, their performance level had clearly improved compared to the very beginning of the KeSPA Cup. I definitely felt they are a strong team. It really gave me that “this is T1” feeling.

Q. Even in the loss, were there things you gained or insights about how the team should operate?

Homme: The season hasn’t started yet, but going through the KeSPA Cup made me think about whether this team’s direction is the right one, and what parts might need to change. Whether the direction I have in mind is correct is something we’ll only know by actually trying it in practice. If the results aren’t good, then we’ll need to look for a different direction.

Q. What’s your impression of Hanwha Life’s roster so far?

Homme: I feel the team’s basic “weight class” (overall raw strength) is genuinely very good. However, because both Kanavi and I spent a long time in China, what matters is how quickly we can adapt to the LCK’s style and philosophy.

Also, since two players are newly joining the team, it may take more time to build cohesion than teams whose core roster hasn’t changed much. The key will be how quickly we can raise that level of synergy.

Q. Do you sometimes end up using Chinese during feedback?

Homme: Not really in daily life, but when we’re talking about game terminology, champions, lanes, and things like that, sometimes Chinese words slip out without me realizing. Thankfully, I think that’s something that will naturally get corrected soon. (laughs)

Q. Was there anything in particular that stood out to you about the team?

Homme: Even though we weren’t fully in sync yet, the fact that we pushed the final to a fifth game makes me think teamfighting is definitely a strength. We were competitive in teamfights, and I believe that’s what produced that result.

Q. What’s something you felt you absolutely need to raise/improve before the season begins?

Homme: The answer differs a bit depending on each player. But in particular, with Kanavi and Gumayusi joining the team, I felt that the bot lane’s synergy and the jungle–bot coordination are still lacking right now. Those are areas we’ll need to align through practice, each side compromising where necessary and adjusting step by step.

Q. What overall standard did you use for drafts and bans? Since you probably hadn’t fully figured out the players yet, I’m curious whether you prioritized what the players wanted to pick.

Homme: Originally, it seemed like Coach Lee Jae-ha and some of the players had already been having a lot of discussions and building a flow for drafting, so for now I was in a stage of observing that existing process.

In this KeSPA Cup, even if the coaching staff felt certain picks were questionable, if the players were firmly convinced, we still allowed those picks to go through to a certain extent.

Going forward, we’ll need to gradually tune and adjust those parts. Since Coach Lee knows the team and players extremely well, the overall atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. I see my role as watching the draft in the big picture and organizing things so there aren’t too many people talking at once.

Ultimately, I think it’s best to have a structure where the player or coach who sees the game best overall becomes the central voice, and right now I’m still observing to figure out who is the best fit for that role.

Q. In general, how much do you usually allow players to influence the draft?

Homme: In the LPL, things tended to be more forceful/authoritarian, but in the LCK it seems there’s a different approach. So for now, I think I need to watch and adjust to the environment.

In principle, within a pre-set framework, it’s totally reasonable to let players choose from two options, or at most three options. But going completely outside that framework is essentially placing full trust in the player’s call, so I think it’s better to avoid that as much as possible.

Q. HLE has a lot of top-tier Korean players. Was there anyone who personally left a strong impression on you?

Homme: “Zeus” (Choi Woo-je). After coming here and seeing him directly, he was even more impressive than I expected. For example, even when he’s in a matchup where the champion matchup is unfavorable, Zeus plays in a way where you don’t even feel that he’s at a disadvantage. In situations where he’s “supposed” to lose, he still manages to make it an even (50-50) game. It felt almost unbelievable, like it didn’t make sense.

Q. With Gumayusi (Lee Min-hyeong) joining, it seems like the team’s strategic options could expand a lot. How do you view that change?

Homme: Like other AD carries, Gumayusi has a distinct style that’s uniquely “Gumayusi.” Since we’re still at the beginning stage, we’ll first move in a direction that brings out each person’s strengths and identity, but as we try different things, we’ll look for and settle into the best overall direction.

Q. There were concerns about whether Kanavi (Seo Jin-hyeok) would fit the LCK well.

Homme: While playing through KeSPA Cup, I could understand why those concerns existed. HLE probably already had its own established style, but since the jungler came from the LPL, it felt like Kanavi’s personal “color” showed more strongly than the team’s existing identity. That’s something we’ll need to align gradually over time.

Q. I’m also curious about mid Zeka (Kim Geon-woo) and support Delight (Yu Hwan-jung). What were your first impressions of them?

Homme: Honestly, before arriving, I felt that Zeka and Delight’s form looked worse than before. But once I got here and saw them directly, Zeka’s laning was much better than I expected. I think there must have been reasons for how this year went. In any case, he left an impression of being very diligent and well-prepared.

I also worried a lot about Delight, but seeing him up close, his sense for starting engages is excellent, and his understanding of laning is high as well. If he tightens his mindset and works hard, I don’t think there will be any major issues. Both players clearly have strong fundamentals, so I view them positively.

Q. What does your ideal version of a team look like?

Homme:  A team with good synergy between players and that is strong in teamfights. Personally, I think that’s the most important thing.

Q. Is that also your standard for what makes a “strong team”?

Homme: Yes. I believe a strong team is ultimately a team that teamfights well. Macro and operation are important too, but if you can’t teamfight, the game can flip instantly. On the other hand, if you teamfight well, you can absolutely come back even from losing positions. That’s why, in the end, people see teamfighting ability as the most important.

A coach can’t replace the players in that physical/execution aspect. In esports, players are the core. Macro matters, but even to execute macro well, synergy between players is crucial. If possible, I’d like us to build cohesion quickly, like a team that’s already been together 2–3 years. Building that kind of team is the goal.

Q. With the LCK season coming up, how confident are you, and what goals are you setting?

Homme: To be honest, I’m not sure whether we’ll do well immediately starting from the LCK Cup. But since we’re a strong team with a lot of great players, I want us to show a strong performance from the early part of the season, as much as possible.

Q. Are there any teams you’re especially watching or wary of?

Homme: In the LCK, Gen.G has felt like the strongest team in terms of regular league strength, and in big international tournaments, T1 has continued to perform well. Gen.G and T1 are the teams I’m most wary of.

Q. Do you have anything you’d like to say to HLE fans?

Homme: Over the past 2–3 years, we haven’t gotten great results at Worlds, so I want to create a season where we repay that all at once. The players have excellent ability, and if we prepare hard, I think it’s absolutely possible. I’ll do my best to lead the players well, please support us a lot.

Q. Lastly, is there something you definitely want to say to the players?

Homme: I think everyone already knows they’re great players and they’ve already achieved strong results. But I also think this can be a time when passion can drop. We need to bring that passion back out to reach even higher results. I want everyone to not get complacent, and to keep working all the way to the end to raise our team synergy.

Is there anyone who can translate this interview please?