ucal : I like the style of LPL, and in order not to be complacent, I returned to LCK

Q: How do you feel about returning to LCK?

ucal : The most important feelings are excitement and anticipation. I am also very eager to see how well I can perform.

Q: What was the reason for your decision to return to LCK?

ucal : Actually, even if there was a position in LCK, I didn't have any special plans to go back. I really like the style in China , and I feel more relaxed when playing in China . But when I received the invitation, I was a bit hesitant. The turning point in my decision was when I thought about whether I could perform well in LPL or if I could also do well returning to LCK. After considering this, I felt that even if I returned to LCK, I could still perform well. When I was playing in China , I felt I could express myself freely and enjoy the games easily, and I believe I can bring that state to LCK. So that’s also the reason I returned to Korea from China .

Q: How do you feel about playing in front of Korean fans?

ucal : I feel very excited, after all, it has been a long time since I played at LoL Park. Moreover, this time returning, imagining wearing the DRX team uniform on stage really makes me feel very thrilled.

Q: What have you learned during your three years in LPL?

ucal : Actually, the atmosphere of scrims in Chinese teams is a bit different from Korean teams. I’m not sure how Korean teams are doing now, but in China , losing doesn’t come with too much pressure. That atmosphere allowed me to be bolder in trying new things and gradually improving my skills.

Q: You must have encountered many difficulties when you first entered LPL, right?

ucal : Actually, I didn’t join a new team but joined a team that already had other players, so I tried my best to adapt to their style and communicate more with my teammates. I also worked hard to learn Chinese, trying to adapt to their playstyle, express what I wanted to say, and understand what they wanted to convey, putting in a lot of effort for that.

Q: Was the language barrier a big problem? It seems like you adapted pretty well?

ucal : Actually, the Chinese players are very friendly, which helped me a lot. Moreover, I think the gaming terminology in China isn’t that complicated; it might be a bit difficult at first, but I learned simple words one by one, and I found it wasn’t too hard.

Q: What are the differences between LCK and LPL?

ucal : LPL players are usually more aggressive and adventurous during matches, and I think that style comes from scrims. After all, scrims are just scrims; while it’s certainly better to perform well in scrims, if you haven’t tried something in scrims, it’s hard to do it in official matches, and I think that’s the biggest difference. But I’ve recently heard that Korean teams are starting to do this as well, and I think that’s pretty good.

Q: LCK also encounters this situation, but why do you feel it particularly in LPL?

ucal : I think it’s because of the personalities of the Chinese players. Once they feel they are in a disadvantageous position or not performing well, they find it hard to endure? You could say they are quite direct in expressing their opinions, sometimes even lacking consideration for others' feelings. Although this might lead to conflicts, for me, it’s actually a good thing. The honesty among team members helps unite them more.

Q: Does that mean the reviews in LPL are more direct?

ucal : Yes, exactly. Unlike the etiquette in Korea , if Chinese players feel uncomfortable, they will express it directly. Although it can sometimes make the atmosphere a bit unpleasant, this direct communication is a good thing for me. In fact, there haven’t been any serious conflicts, but there are occasional disputes. However, it’s these disputes that bring everyone closer and help us better understand each other's thoughts.

Q: Why are you particularly grateful to the TT team?

ucal : The most important thing is that, although I could have joined other Chinese teams, TT chose to believe in me and consistently let me play in the mid-lane position. Even if I didn’t perform well in scrims sometimes, they still continued to trust me. Feeling trusted in such a team is really important.

Q: Does your mental state directly affect your performance in matches?

ucal : I think it has a big impact. For example, if I feel that I might be substituted for not performing well, that feeling can make one hesitant. But as a player, if you want to reach a higher level, you must be decisive and not afraid of failure.

Q: Have you ever thought about continuing to stay with TT?

ucal : I stayed with TT for a long time and there was a possibility of continuing to stay, but I felt I still needed some changes. I feel that if I stay in the same environment for too long, I might start to become complacent. Therefore, I want to start again in a new environment with a new mindset and try some new challenges.

Q: What were your thoughts when DRX extended the invitation to you?

ucal : I didn’t think there would be a position in LCK. In fact, when this opportunity really came, I didn’t have many thoughts at first, but when I thought about it, I had a lot of concerns. On one hand, I was wondering if I had to change this environment, and on the other hand, I was thinking that I hadn’t left Korea well, so I was also wondering if I could perform like I did in China after returning.