Interview with HwangSin, a professional Korean SC2 player

Hwang "HwangSin" Seung Hyuk is a South Korean professional StarCraft 2 player currently playing for It's Gosu eSports. Before joining team Gosu he was on two of the best Korean teams, IM and MVP.  He is best known for his dominant performance in the TeamSpeak TL Open 16 and 18 where he took first place in both.

He also participated in the NASL Season 2 where he finished top 16 losing to LiquidHerO 1:3. He has a very unpredictable gameplay style which favors a lot of timing attacks. Also, he loves to stream his games when he plays ladder. Most of the time with Kpop, and his microphone turned on for some singing of his own :).

Picture courtesy of KEVIN CHANG for Team Liquid

 

Tell us a short intro about yourself.

HwangSin: Ok! Hello! I'm HwangSin. I play on NA team It'sGoSu eSports and I'm a Korean Protoss player who was on a Korean team (MVP). 

 

How did you begin your StarCraft 2 career? Have you played Broodwar or any other games before SC2?

HwangSin: I just played BW for fun with my friends! And I started SC2 for fun too, but so many people said "You can be a pro gamer, you should challenge it!" so I started SC2 for my new life!

 

You are top GM on Korean server, how much do you practice on ladder and with other people ( teammates etc) ? Do you have any favorite practice partner?

HwangSin: I always practice on ladder and with some of my good friends on KR server. I play average 30~40 games on ladder and I play with LosirA and other people for tournament practice.

 

Is there a big difference in play style on NA/EU servers then on the Korean server? How fast did you adapt?

HwangSin: I think KR server is so much harder than NA/EU servers, but NA/EU players are smarter than KR players. I mean, KR players always use only 1 build order for practice, but NA/EU players use so many build orders, so it was hard for me when I started.

 

You have been a part of IM and MVP before you joined It's Gosu eSports, what is the major difference, in your opinion, between the Korean pro gaming teams and the foreigner teams?

HwangSin: Yes, I was on IM and MVP teams a few months ago. KR team players don't have many chances for their gaming life, like MLG,IPL,NASL etc. They don't know how to go to there. But famous players don't need to think about it, because the team will pay them to attend foreign events. But mid players~low players can't get the chances. But Foreign teams make so much chances to Korean players like me. I went to MLG 2times and NASL season 2 ro16.

 

Congratulations on that. Will we see you in any offline events soon?

HwangSin: Sure! I'm going to MLG Columbus in March and IPL too if the team pays for me. And I'm going to make NASL season3! It's a very big chance for me. I played NASL season2 at an offline event but I lost to LiquidHerO, so I want revenge!



Best of luck there! What are your thoughts on the new patch, do you think it will affect PvT? 

HwangSin: I think it's so good for Protoss! It will be fair now! Mule nerf is best to me.



I agree! What do you like the most about Starcraft?

HwangSin: I like strong players and big tournaments and SO MANY FANS! They make me happy for my gamer life!

 

Picture courtesy of KEVIN CHANG/Team Liquid

Favourite protoss unit?

HwangSin: Ahh, I love Sentrys because they're so cute!

 

Haha. Worst unit in general?

HwangSin: Worst unit is Ultra i guess! Its too big and doesn't have big damage!

 

Worst/best matchup?

HwangSin: Worst is PvZ at the moment, but it will improve very soon for sure! And Best match up is PvT, Terran units are so cute in my mind, so I always want to kill them!

 

Haha Who do you think is the best Protoss player out there now? Both Korean and foreigner. Exept yourself ofcourse!

HwangSin: LiquidHerO is the best Protoss in the world I guess. His play always makes me surprised, like his Warp-prism, incredible plays, it's hard to belive!

 

Indeed, I still remember his game vs Dimaga, that game was so good with prisms!

HwangSin: Yes!

 

Who is your favorite player?

HwangSin: My favorite player is LosirA! He's my best friend and best player in my mind!  I respect him so much about everything.

 

Do you have a favorite caster maybe? 

HwangSin: Yes! Day9 made me happy. He made the video about me!

 

Haha, I saw it.

HwangSin: Yep :D and do you know Doa??

 

Yes! He is in your team right?

HwangSin: :D Yes! I love him so much!

 

How did you choose to play Protoss? Did you try other races also?

HwangSin: I didn't try other races! I just took Protoss because Protoss is the MAN! Terran and zerg are just tricky, but protoss is like a Tight fist!

 Picture courtesy of KEVIN CHANG/Team Liquid

Do you regularly follow GSL, GSTL, and foreign tournaments like MLG and IEM? 

HwangSin: I always find the GSL, GSTL scores on PlayXP. Playxp is Korean community site like Team Liquid. They always upload the scores on there for every tournament: MLG, GSTL, GSL, IEM, NASL etc.  so I just check there.

 

Who do you think will win MLG? HINT: Sjow or Merz!!! 

HwangSin: Haha. Sjow and Merz are good players! But IMMVP will beat everyone I think.



Do you like playng at LAN centers, or how do you call them in Korea, computer bangs? Wait! I got that wrong didn't I?! PC bang!!

HwangSin: Haha, yes it's PC bang, good! I don't like playing there because it's too expensive T_T. I just bought my own computer ! Hehe.

 

Ohh, congratulations!

HwangSin: :DD thanks!



You always seem like a very happy and cheerful person, smiling all the time, and SINGING!! Are you always like that? Will we ever see a "DARK" Hwangsin?

HwangSin: Haha. I'm a person too. It's good if I'm not going to be "dark" during my lifetime. But I'm just happy! When I play SC2, I'm just happy! Don't want to get someone to be angry or sad, SC2 is just "happy", no need to be angry! And many fans always make me happy also :D.

 

Will we see you on Korea's got talent maybe any time soon? :D

HwangSin: Haha, I think so!

 

Ohh?! Be sure to let us know so we can cheer for you! Do you play anything apart from StarCraft, or do any other games interest you maybe? 

I do not play any other games exept SC2. But I'm intersted about Diablo 3. I'm waiting for it :D and I will try it for fun and hobby :D.

 

Would you like to see more GSL maps added on the ladder map pool?

HwangSin: Oh yes! It would be nice if they added more on the ladder map pool! GSL maps are so fun to play.

 

What are your expectations for this year?

HwangSin: I want to make it to Code S this year! And I want to make more results from SC2, like MLG champion haha!

 

Picture courtesy of KEVIN CHANG/Team Liquid

Wish you the best of luck with that! Who is your favorite Kpop artist?!

HwangSin: Thanks alot! I will not forget about your cheering! Hehe. I like Beast! Beast is a Korean idol!

 

Ohh? Seems we agree on that part also!

HwangSin: Oh! :D.

 

Favorite kpop song?

HwangSin: It's Ma boy 2 from Electronic Boys hahaha! I always sing it on the stream.

 

Haha. The last question is aimed towards our female audience! :) Do you have a girlfriend?!

HwangSin: Ohh, I hope I will soon T_T. I'm such a lonely boy !!!

 

Thank you for your time Hwangsin! I wish you the best of luck in life and your StarCraft career. Any shoutouts?

HwangSin: Thank you so much! I will make many results this year! Thank you to my team and thanks to my friends! Thanks alot and I will stream much more for fun, so I want you guys to watch my games more! Play games with me and sing!

 

You can support HwangSin at the following pages:

@GoSuHwangSin

http://www.twitch.tv/hwangsin

Remember to also support us at @TeamDignitas @IvanSlezak