Team WE's new Korean coach Hiro speaks out on the language barrier, OMG, the Chinese scene, and more

In the wake of another disappointing international League of Legends tournament for China, China’s Team WE has taken a step towards closing the gap between Chinese and Korean teams by hiring former Korean pro Hiro as a coach. On Monday, Chinese gaming site Duowan published an exclusive interview with Hiro, which I have translated in its entirety below.

(See: Why can’t China beat Korea at League of Legends?)

Note: I’m working from the Chinese translation of the interview, so there may be some minor differences between what that says and what Hiro originally said in Korean.

Duowan: How do you feel coming to China? Can you introduce yourself for everyone?

Hiro: My name is Lee Woo-suk, my ID is Hiro, and I’m 28 years old this year. When I was in Korea I was a professional player and I’ve also been a coach. I feel there’s no difference between China and Korea, but there are many new places, and right now WE’s players and staff have given me a lot of help to assist me in quickly adjusting to this new environment.

What do Korean pros and your Korean friends think about you coming to China to coach WE?

They tell me to work hard, they help pump me up, and they’re worried I won’t be able to get used to eating Chinese food.

Many pro players choose to leave the industry after they retire; why did you decide to become a coach instead?

I really like games, and when I was a player I was always attracted to leadership roles like that of the coach, so that’s the main reason why I became a coach after retiring.

Can you talk a bit about your experience as a coach in Korea?

When coaching in Korea I pretty much lived together with the players. Compared to other coaches tactics and strategies, I place more emphasis on adjusting and guiding the players’ mindsets.

Tell us your impressions of the Chinese eSports scene, and what the biggest differences are between Chinese and Korean eSports?

I haven’t been in China very long, so I don’t understand [the Chinese scene] very well. This puts a lot of pressure on me. When I first came, I was worried that after coming I wouldn’t be able to get the team to achieve better results, and I was also worried about the language barrier. But I feel that if I try my hardest, I can overcome any obstacle. Also, prior to coming I had talked with WE’s management about the future direction of the team; I will become even stronger and work my absolute hardest for the team.

Do you think communication with your players will be an issue?

I think communication with the players is very important, but mutual trust is also very important. Although the language is an impediment, I trust that the players will be professional and will work their hardest together with me.