Last December, I had the opportunity of interviewing Ryu Je Hong through 'OW STAR' corner. Then, Ryu Je Hong stated that 'it may be difficult to be the very best, but I want to leave my name engraved in the field of Overwatch'.

Exactly 1 year afterwards, gamers enjoying Overwatch knows Ryu Je Hong. He has become the very best, standing at the pinnacle of the game.

Ryu Je Hong was even nominated as a candidate for The e Sports Player of the Year award in The Game Awards with Sang-hyeok 'Faker'Lee of League of Legends, Salehi 'KuroKy'Takhasomi of Dota2, Nikola 'NiKo'Kova?and Marcelo 'coldzera' David of Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Although he did not win the award, he was certainly the most prominent figure in Overwatch in 2017.

We had the honor of meeting Ryu Jehong of Seoul Dynasty who achieved what he hoped for and is still aiming higher.

Q. It's been a year since our last interview. You mentioned in your last interview that even if you can't be the best, you would like people to remember the name 'Ryu Je Hong'. Now everyone knows you, and you are the best.

A. I think people do remember me, but I don't think that I am the very best. I can only thank the fans for rooting for me. I'm still ambitious. I want to be more successful with more efforts. Please keep rooting for me.

Q. How was 2017 for you?

A. I think that I achieved a lot. I think that it's amazing how I was able to achieve unachievable things within a year. My team and fans are amazing.

Q. You cut your hair short before the beginning of the Overwatch League Pre-Season.

A. I wanted to cut my hair short a month or two before. But it was delayed because I had interviews or other things. I had no specific reasons for cutting my hair, but… since it's a new beginning. I used to shave my hair short often. It's my first time since I got fat, and I don't plan on doing it again. I should do it after dieting.

Q. Your fans are worried that you might get fat in the US.

A. I don't think I can help it. American food is so good. I had so much steak during Pre-season. I can't eat it anymore. But there are other good foods other than steak.

Q. Has your English gotten better?

A. I'm not really studying English these days. I should study more in the US, but I think I got better. I think that it might be better for me to teach others Korean. (Laugh) I've gotten older, and I can't really understand what I hear. I only keep speaking. I try to study now and then though.

Q. How you entered the match in your first match during Overwatch League Pre-Season. So cheeky.

A. I wanted to give them a reaction. People were roaring when I entered the stadium. Something surged in me. So I covered my mouth and raised my hand. I think they captured that moment. It was overwhelming for me.

Q. Women hate golden necklaces and golden bracelets worn by men. But you seem to be wearing a golden ring and a golden bracelet. Do they have certain meanings?

A. Is that so? I didn't know. The golden ring is a family ring that I had with my parents. The bracelet was supposed to be for my mother and my father, but it was too large for my father. So I got to wear it.

Q. Your parents must be so happy that you've succeeded as a professional gamer.

A. They love it. My father always told me to be humble even before my success. They said that I should never become too proud of myself. He always mentions it when I go home during the holidays. My father always reminds me to be diligent.


Q. You were nominated as a candidate for this year's eSports player in The Game Awards

A. When I was named a candidate, I didn't really care about the other candidates. I thought that I should try harder because I had the honor of being named a candidate. Others told me that Faker was a candidate last year as well. He wasn't selected though. In my personal stream, I asked people to please vote for Faker and me because a Korean candidate has never won. Faker received an overwhelming number of votes and won. I did go to the awards ceremony, but Faker didn't make it because of the All Star Games. If he came, I would have said congratulations. I would like to say congratulations through this interview.

Q. There were different events during the year. You won games, and you had fan meetings. We got to see you crying in some of them. Do you cry often?

A. I cry a lot, like my mother. I used to cry in sad scenes while watching dramas, and my mother used to cry with me. Of course, my recent tears are tears of joy.

Q. There were some recent unfortunate events, though. In Overwatch League, you couldn't be with your teammates in STX Soul.

A. Whenever I have a new team, I wanted to be with them for a long time. Before Overwatch, I didn't get to meet a lot of players from different teams. I wanted things to be so in Overwatch, too. I'm sad that it didn't work in Overwatch. I am certain that I will be with them in a different opportunity.

Q. Let's talk about Overwatch League. How was your Pre Season?

A. I thin the start was good. The start decides the rest of the season, but the start was good. I am overwhelmed with gratitude because Korean fans came to watch me play.


Q. The gigantic screen of the stadium looked good. How was it like actually playing there?

A. I didn't get to see how the players' seats looked from the watchers' seats, but from the photos they were amazing. The crowd cheered overwhelmingly, too. They called my name out after the games. It was so heated.

Q. You won against New York Excelsior.

A. I thought that it would be difficult to win against New York Excelsior. But it was manageable in the actual game. We weren't so good at Junkertown but I think we did a good job defending. We thought that we had a chance after that game.

Q. They said that Seoul became stronger after getting new dealers.

A. The coaches are having different systems. Four dealers are practicing so hard. They are competing, and they are getting better.

Q. Let's talk about heroes. In Overwatch World Cup, Mercy Meta appeared.

A. There's something unsatisfying about Mercy. When I see an opponent with low HP while healing, Ana or Zenyatta could defeat the opponent but Mercy can't. I'm practicing other heroes as well as Mercy. Mercy can't ever be overwhelming. I don't think that you've ever seen any player known for using Mercy. If Valkyrie is nuffed as well, I don't think that I will be using Mercy.


Q. Dae Kuk 'KuKi' Kim, who is of the same age as you are joined the team.

A. I love it. Players who are of the same age as I am are rare. I'm so happy that that player came to my team. He's so nice, funny, and has a nice personality. He cheers everyone up. We all keep laughing.

Q. You don't have much time until the opening of the regular season. What are your goals?

A. Everyone would answer that the goal is winning the regular season. I think that my team will work harder in regular season. I want to win and win the MVP award for the regular season. But I have to win to do that.

Q. Is there a team you want to defeat in Overwatch League?

A. London Spitfire. Maybe we will be jinxed and lose. There are Kongdu and other players from GC Busan. We lost many times against GC Busan, so we want to beat them. Because we didn't exactly win against Kongdu (Apex Season 3), I want to win against him, too. I'm worried about London because they all play well. London did not have the best Pre-Season score, but I think that they may not have been the best because it's pre-season. I'm sure that London will be great in regular season.

Q. There are many disturbed players because they did not make it into Overwatch League or because their teams have been disbanded. What would like to say to them?


A. I was anxious before I became twenty. Don't be anxious, wait for the right time. I had to wait until I became 26. You have to have patience and work hard. Don't be lazy. People have to always be telling you that you are good. You will have a chance only when people know about you. Then success will come.

Q. In Overwatch League, there were players who used to play for others. Many players who did not make it to Overwatch League are upset.

A. I think that it's immoral for players who used to play for others to be in the league.

Q. It's time to wrap up the interview. What are your last words?

A. I think that I was able to be successful because of my fans. Thank you again. Thank you to the directors and coaches of Seoul Dynasty. I promise you that I will be better. After a year, the league will be expanded. I have high expectations. I want to grow each year.

Translated by ROXCrew.

*This translation was provided through a partnership with the ROXGAMING.