Vortex Gaming

On the 8th, at a late hour after the LCK schedule, which consisted of a total of 5 sets, Ham Ye-jin announcer was met at the Roll Park Bilgewater Cafe. It wasn't what you'd call a 'full set, packed game,' but after finishing the media interviews after the game, it was already well past 11 p.m.

It was quite late, and I was a little worried about doing an interview after a long broadcast, but that was unfounded. Announcer Ham Ye-jin, who greeted the reporter with a bright face, responded to every question throughout the interview with long answers filled with sincerity. In the middle, when we shared small talk about the game, she sometimes 'suddenly accelerated' like any other gamer, and finished the interview with a full time.

Announcer Ham Ye-jin, who expressed her emotion and joy for a long time, saying, "I've never received anything like this before," to a fan letter that a fan carefully handed her when she was about to return after the interview. We will now begin the interview with announcer Ham Ye-jin, who may have been a bit talkative.

※ This interview was conducted immediately after the LCK game on June 8th.

Q. Nice to meet you. First, please say hello to the readers!

Hello. I'm Ham Ye-jin, an interviewer for the 2023 LCK.

Q. The Summer Split has started, so you must be very busy. How have you been?

It's only been two days since summer started, and today is my first broadcast, so... until then, there was also MSI, and you may have seen it, but I also filmed 'The GLoLy' on AfreecaTV. While doing that, I learned a lot about LoL, and after filming, I spent time studying on my own. I watched 'Wolf's' broadcast and studied what champions would mainly appear in the summer, and I thought I needed to know all the skills of those champions so I could easily watch when a team fight broke out. Also, I'm asking and learning a lot of interview skills and tips from the older sisters I'm working with.

Q. How was MSI, which was also your first international tournament?

I felt that the most. A feeling that pride in the LCK was boiling over? Even when I watched the game alone at home, I cheered for the LCK teams and LCK players, and when an LCK player did well, I jumped up and cheered.

Also, in terms of work, I felt that I had grown more than in the spring while doing MSI. In the spring, I didn't have much broadcasting experience, and I rarely did live broadcasts, so there were many clumsy parts, but I felt that I had grown slowly thanks to the help of many people while spending the spring. And, to be honest, I felt a little comfortable because there were no interviews during MSI.

Q. Let's talk about a little painful story first. You faced a lot of criticism while going through the spring. I'm curious about how you accepted and overcame that process.

My MBTI is the ultimate S. I'm a really realistic person. In my opinion, that's not wrong. I think that's the reaction and feedback from the viewers. This result came out because I was lacking. Also, this feedback is because they are interested in me and have affection for me. And to be honest, I think I would be angry too. If my favorite team's favorite player wins and I'm doing an interview, but the announcer who leads it doesn't do well, I can't help but get angry and disappointed.

Of course, there are times when I feel upset when I'm in the position of accepting it. There are also days when I get hurt too much. However, the viewers didn't say 'get out' to me from the beginning. They are saying it because they want me to get better, so I'm not taking it badly. I also think that I was able to grow more because of that feedback.

Q. What kind of help did Riot Games give you for growth and development?

If I talk about before I started broadcasting, I go to work at Yonhap News TV. At that time, I went to work every day from Monday to Friday. But Roll Park is very close. It's within a 10-minute walk, so I went to Roll Park after work. I don't play games well and it was almost my first time, so they helped me a lot by playing together so I could get closer to the game. Also, they actively helped me, saying that if there was anything difficult or hard to find, I could ask them and not keep too much distance.

The other announcer sisters also help me a lot, and throughout the spring, they gave me feedback one by one, saying, 'How about doing this? You often use these words, so how about trying this instead?' It was really helpful. Everyone around me really helps me a lot. But I'm sad and sorry that my growth is slow and their help didn't shine.

Q. I'd also like to hear about what kind of efforts you're making personally.

I'm trying to play a lot of games. Anyway, I think I can improve my champion skills and game understanding if I play a lot of games. When I'm doing an analysis desk, I can of course ask the analysts what scene to watch and why, but I need to understand it to some extent myself. That's my role too. The analysts tell me to ask them anything, but I don't want to be someone who always asks them. Also, in the case of interviews, I can ask questions easily if I understand them. So I'm trying to play as many games as possible.

Q. I heard you mainly play top Malphite?

I used to play support, but I recently changed my position to top. Malphite. But again, there's a limit to continuing with only one champion. So I tried ARAM, but I was so bad that I got a lot of 욕 from my teammates. I wanted to play champions I hadn't played before, so I played ARAM, but I couldn't help but be bad because I hadn't played them before. I also heard that I was the worst Ashe. So I went back to Summoner's Rift.

Q. I also saw in an interview that you said you liked games since you were young.

I played a lot of games like Tales Runner, KartRider, and GetAmped since I was young, and the last games I enjoyed were Battlegrounds and Overwatch. Actually, I first encountered LoL a long time ago, but I quit as soon as I tried it because it was too difficult. I think LoL is the most difficult game I've ever played. There was so much to know. There are many champions, the characteristics of each position are different, and so are the items.

Still, I started playing LoL again while preparing for the LCK. I haven't been able to play ranked games yet, and I play a lot of normal games. Actually, there's too much of a skill difference with Riot officials, so I mainly play with my acquaintances.

Q. Esports is based online and the age group is low, so memes are very actively used. I think this could be one of the difficult factors.

I thought I knew a lot of memes. But I came here and realized that the memes I know are not memes. If I don't know a meme that comes out on TV, I look it up and study it separately. There are so many good information sites these days that they even have memes organized separately. I study while laughing out loud.(What's the most interesting meme you've seen recently?)The most interesting meme I've seen recently is coach Go Dong-bin's... Kong Line meme (laughs).

Q. Some memes start with a bad meaning and change to a good meaning. I think you want to develop the nickname 'Good' in that way.

To be honest, it was hard at first. However, commentator Lee Hyun-woo 'Cletem' said, 'I like that, why do you think so? Push it forward. I don't see it badly. I don't watch other announcers' broadcasts, but I watch yours. It's fun.' So in a way, it could be teasing, but I thought there were people who didn't see it badly. So I decided to make it my own. But I don't think I've used it even once today (laughs). I think I was a little conscious of it.

Q. Come to think of it, you've done an interview again today after a long time. What did you feel?

I haven't been able to monitor it yet, so I don't know what it will feel like, but my mindset has definitely changed. Before, I was focusing on not making mistakes and not stuttering, but now I'm paying a lot of attention to listening to what the players are saying and answering accordingly.

In the spring, I was so pressured and burdened by the thought of not making mistakes that I couldn't focus on what the players were saying. However, now I'm prioritizing listening to the players' stories, even if I make mistakes. Of course, I shouldn't make mistakes, but I want to create 티키타카 while listening to the players' stories first.

Q. What kind of image do you want to show this summer?

I want to hear people say, 'She really worked hard' or 'She's showing a changed image.' I showed a lacking image in the spring, and many people told me to wait until the summer. I really want to show those fans an improved image.

Q. Now, let's change the question slightly. As someone who likes games, what is it like to work in the esports industry?

As someone who likes games, I thought it would be exciting and happy to make games my job. But when I actually tried it, there were many difficult parts. And I didn't know that people would be so interested in esports. In the past, I was just someone who liked games, and I didn't know much about the league. I felt that the fan base was enormous, and I thought that I needed to do better.

Q. Then, what do you think is the charm of esports?

The biggest charm is that I can play the game myself. Thanks to that, I can better understand the players' difficult process and admire their plays more sincerely. How do those plays come out? I can't do it, but I also have respect for the players who can do it. I think it's more fun to watch. I think that's the biggest charm of esports.

Q. Now it's time to wrap up the interview. What is announcer Yejin's goal?

My goal is to establish myself firmly in the esports field. I want to show that I'm not someone who's going to leave. I didn't come here to gain popularity, and I didn't come here to make money. I really want to establish myself here. I want to make it so that one or two out of ten people think of me when they think of LCK.

Q. Finally, please say a word to the fans.

I felt a lot while spending the spring, and I've worked hard and studied a lot to show the maximum I can show. What I felt while running directly in the LCK field is that everyone is making history with 피땀. I want to show you a lot of good things so that I don't become a burden anymore. The important thing is still an unyielding heart. I hope to be recognized as a member of the LCK for a long time and be with you. Thank you.

웹진 인벤신연재 기자
2023-06-17