LOUD are the CBLOL Cup champions. In a season marked by an unexpected roster upheaval just days before the semifinals, they surprised everyone by lifting the trophy regardless. Still at his new home for First Stand, jungler Ko "YoungJae" Yeong-jae sat down with RFT to talk about his journey as a Korean import, the chaos of the playoffs period, and what it means to face LYON in the opening match.
How are you settling in? It's been a few months in Brazil now, have you noticed any cultural differences?
More than the cultural differences, it's the food and the vibe of the people that I notice the most. Brazilians are really cheerful and fun to be around. But they genuinely cannot eat spicy food at all. Back in Korea, something like Shin Ramyun is just a normal level of spicy — here it's considered extremely hot. There's nothing even close to that, so I miss it a bit in my daily life.
Is there no Korean food to fill that gap?
There is, but it's just different. With something like sundubu jjigae — soft tofu stew — it's supposed to be rich and a bit spicy. The versions they sell here taste a little bland. It's not bad, it's just not the real thing.
You're one of many Korean players who've made the move abroad. Is it purely a numbers game — not enough LCK spots?
To be honest, I think most players who go abroad do so because they want to play in Korea but simply can't find a spot. That was my situation too. I wanted to stay in Korea, but the circumstances didn't allow it. I think there are a lot of players like me.
A Loud está sendo subestimada desde o início do CBLOL, ela pode surpreender novamente.