It was his dream to set his foot on the pro scene. However, the reality struck hard for Minseung “Haru” Kang, who debuted in last Summer Split, as he lost in promotion match and had to find a new team. The struggle didn’t last long though because Haru is now reborn as a jungler to take the team to the LCK playoffs. In less than a year, he left a deep impression in the fans’ minds. The question still remains: how was he able to go from losing promotion match to pulling himself up to where he is now?

Haru said he simply believed in the virtue of hard work even when going got tough. He went back to the basics in solo rank to regain his confidence and joined Korean powerhouse Samsung Galaxy. While all of the runners-up of Worlds 2016 still held their positions, he quickly became a part of the team, showing near-perfect coordination with the veterans.

It’s safe to say that Haru improved in other aspects as a pro gamer. He used to be quite nervous in interviews and press rooms, but now he’s comfortable enough to share tidbits about his life. Without further ado, here’s our interview with Haru, who has more to look forward in his career.

The Spring Split is over now. How have you been?

I went home and spent time with my family during the vacation. After I returned to the team house, I played games with the remaining team members. I slept for a long time since I usually don’t get to sleep much and played other games that I’m not allowed to play in the practice room. Once we went to a PC bang (Korean internet cafe), and everyone started to play different games on their own. Stitch played Maplestory, and I played Digimon. Ruler played some other soccer game, and our coach, TrAce, played Overwatch.

I heard that your team has a very busy schedule even though it’s the off-season. What have you been up to lately?

I’m preparing for the event that my team and club are planning at the moment. I’ve been streaming my solo queue ranked games. Because I like to watch anime, whenever my viewers recommend certain anime songs, I would play them, and it seems that people who are interested in anime and LoL come to watch my streams. It hasn’t been long since I’ve become interested in anime. I’m into Love Live! these days. I’d play the songs in the draft and start explaining my gameplay when I’m in middle of a game. Unless I’m in middle of frantic teamfights, I keep explaining the situation I’m in. 

You are the only one who’s new here among the other members. Did you find it hard to adjust to your new team?

It wasn’t hard since I was the one who had to adjust. It’s better for me to adjust to the training and the team house rather than have my teammates change their ways for my sake. Since they all were nice, it wasn’t too difficult.

Usually during our breaks, I either go workout at the gym with my teammates or order from delis at night. We have this rule where we have to work out a certain amount, and we have to pay if we don’t, so I went to workout with my other teammates. Some don’t bother with it too much, but CuVee tries really hard. Of course, they do it to maintain their weight; because after exercising, they all eat a lot. Especially CuVee - he doesn’t give up even one piece of chicken when we order fried chicken. He’s always about "1 chicken per person". We always decide who will pay by rock paper scissors, but CuVee rarely gets to pay. [laughs]

Now let’s talk about Haru the pro! It was your first time playing at the LCK Playoffs. Could you share your feelings about it?

We didn’t perform well last year, but it felt like I personally improved a lot as we got this far this year. Even if we were placed 3rd, I think it was a good experience for me. I was nervous only at the first match in the regular season and did fine in the rest, but I got nervous again at the match for the finals.

Samsung Galaxy has been definitely getting good scores since last year. When did you get the feeling that your team would end up with good results?

At first, I didn’t. But as we continued, I could feel the potential of the team. My teammates were good to each other, and our teamwork reflected that. I think we were able to produce good results because our head coach, Woobum "Edgar" Choi, helped us strive to be better. And as for myself, I started to gain more confidence when we continued to win. So now I think it’s possible for me to win no matter who my opponent is.

You’ve played from the promotion match to the playoffs as a pro gamer in two splits. What are your reflections on this one year?

When I was making my debut as a pro, I felt confident in my gaming skills. But then, I gradually discovered my flaws as I continued to play in pro games. Back when I was still in CJ Entus, I couldn’t find out what I needed to work on to improve myself. After joining Samsung Galaxy, I tried real hard to change the things I did wrong, and I think that helped me improve a lot. 

Could you tell us how you became a pro gamer?

Back when I was still an amateur player, Boseong "BDD" Kwak recommended me for a tryout, and that’s how I got started as a pro. BDD was my online acquaintance, and we’ve known each other for a long time. That was when I dropped out of school to look for a team to join.

You said you dropped out of school to be a professional gamer. Did your parents agree to that?

Both my parents are positive folks, so they weren’t really against it much. Although my father was worried and thought I should at least high school diploma, even if I do go into professional gaming. Fortunately, I have an older brother who knows about League of Legends. He told my parents how I stacked against the top players on Korean server.

Afterwards, my father was all for what I chose to do. Both my parents watch all my games, and when I call them on the days I lose, my father would be going to bed early, all upset. On the other hand, he’d be real happy when we win. I don’t think he knows much about gaming, but he roots for our team like he’s watching his favorite spectator sports, baseball.

How were things back when you played in the promotion match?

The team atmosphere wasn’t bad, but as we kept on losing, it was like we couldn’t remember how to win… I think it was a situation we couldn’t help, as we were on a losing streak. I also lost confidence. It was a slump, and I couldn’t even really play solo ranked games well.

After my contract with CJ Entus was terminated, I played solo ranked games late into the night at home. I wanted to try again with a new team. I think I regained my confidence by winning lots of ranked games then. After I joined Samsung Galaxy, I remember being placed 1st in solo ranked games.

After you left CJ Entus, how did you join Samsung Galaxy, the team in 2nd place at last year’s World Championship?

I was looking for a new team; I even looked at the ones overseas. Then coach Edgar asked me to try out for the team recruitment. I really wanted to stay in Korea and show the potential that I didn’t get to reveal last year. Also, I felt that Samsung Galaxy was a powerful team after playing scrims against them last year, and I made up my mind to join since I felt that I could also be great in that team. 

Chanyong "Ambition" Kang, who was the main contributor to Samsung Galaxy’s victories last year, was playing the same position that you do. Weren’t you worried that you wouldn’t get to picked as a starting player?

I wasn’t really sure if I could play as a starting player because Ambition had already been developing good chemistry with the other teammates for a year. I just thought that there will be an opportunity if I kept trying hard. Then, our coach told me that he’ll give me a chance to play in the scrims and tournaments if he thinks I’m ready. So that’s why I think I got the chance. If I was on some other team, I don’t think I would have had a chance. I was able to come this far because our coach gave me this great opportunity.

Seungju "Stitch" Lee also played in the last game of the playoffs. He has also built on his confidence by playing solo ranked games lately. He came out last and said that he feels confident enough to win in the lane phase, which he actually did.

Did you see SKT T1 play at the finals? Your sharp, shrewd play style seems similar to that of SKT T1’s Peanut.

Peanut might think differently, but I think our playstyle is really similar. I started feeling like this when I watched him play solo ranked games on his streams. I think whether you win or lose, how the jungler performs in the game depends on how well each lanes hold up. Dongbin "Score" Go said, "a jungler’s luck depends on his team," which I agree with. There are many things a jungler can do if the laners have a lead in their own lanes. I think we were able to win because the laners did very well in the regular season.

You seem pretty shy usually, but you embodied Rengar when you played aggressively in your games. How would you describe your real-life tendencies and gameplay style?

Many people assume that I’m inclined toward aggressiveness from watching me score many kills in the game. Actually, I don’t engage just because I’m aggressive. I only commit when I know for sure that I can catch a kill. I have mental criteria, which is to give a try when it looks like a close kill.

Playing aggressively does have its downsides as it can often lead to defeat. For a jungler to play aggressively, I can throw games with a single mistake. Playing on the safe side contributes more to the team, and I can be rated more favorably. It was often the case that I became the target of criticism when I overextended.

There’s usually a reason when the enemy player engages or overextends. It’s either someone else is backing him up, or he’s aware of my teammates’ locations on the map. It’s important not to fall for that trick. I make some questionable plays on solo queue, but I try to commit when I'm 100% sure in a team environment.

There were many times where you and your mid laner synergized very well and carried the game during the Spring Split. In what ways do you think you play well with Crown?

Actually, we didn’t synergize well in scrims. I pushed Crown to the extreme. [laughs] When we were first scrimming together, I often died without doing much, trying to gank mid. I even gave up buffs to the enemy mid laner. After those extreme practice sessions, I think our coordination improved as a whole, not to mention my teammates playing on another level in actual tournaments. Since the fight for vision control happens more frequently in tournaments than in scrims, Crown and I were able to pull off some good plays together.

Crown doesn’t blame me even if I get picked off. During important matches when I get picked off for no reason, he only tells me to focus then goes right back to his game. My teammates usually console me that it’s okay because they’re afraid they may stifle me. They even yell it out when I get picked off in mid lane, but I think that’s partially because my death didn’t have a huge impact on the game as a whole.

I remember the game against MVP when Ambition and I alternated in giving up double buffs to the enemy laner. We ended up winning both games, and my teammates jokingly said the mid laner really paid his dues in scrims. Granted, Crown wasn’t very happy to hear that. [laughs] He somewhat accepts it as a fact of life now.

Since junglers tend to exert the most influence on the team as a whole, how do you keep in sync with the rest of the teammates?

From outside the game, I guess we all get along. Inside the game, mid laner & jungler synergy has to come through. I don’t think there were many cases when mid laner & jungler synergy fell apart in the regular season. Instead of a single person dictating shotcalling, we all voice our inputs depending on the situations and find ways to pull through. Of course, top laners probably play a different game than the rest except when they teleport. I interact the most with mid and bot laners in the game.

Anything else you’d like to share we haven’t asked?

My family and relatives have been very supportive of me. They watch all my games, and I want to express my gratitude. I’ll save what I’d like to say to my teammates and coaching staffs.

Since Summer Split results will spell out whether we’ll go to Worlds, I’ll make every game count and play even harder than spring. I’d like to set my foot on Worlds once.