7-Year Unemployed Go Master Lee Sedol Gives 'Cool' Response to Rumor of 10 Billion Won in Prize Money: "I Haven't Counted It…" [Comprehensive] (Oktakbang-ui Muna)

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Former professional Go player Lee Sedol showed a cool reaction to claims that his cumulative prize money exceeds 10 billion won.

Lee Sedol appeared as a guest alongside actor Heo Sung-tae on episode 331 of the KBS 2TV variety show "The Problem Kids of the Attic Room" (hereinafter "Oktakbang-ui Muna"), which aired on the 20th. Lee Sedol and Heo Sung-tae engaged in a rich quiz talk with MCs Song Eun-i, Kim Suk, Kim Jong-kook, Yang Se-chan, and Joo Woo-jae.

On the broadcast that day, the two drew attention for their exceptional "chemistry" despite being an introverted pair with no prior acquaintance. Heo Sung-tae revealed his fan-like enthusiasm, saying, "I appeared because I really wanted to meet Master Lee Sedol." Lee Sedol added, laughing, "I was nervous at our first meeting, thinking I might get hit if I acted up for no reason, but unlike what the screen showed, he was very kind."

The conversation about Go was also fascinating. When it was mentioned that Lee Sedol's prize money exceeds 10 billion won, he gave a cool answer: "I don't keep track of the total amount, so I don't know." He also revealed an anecdote that surprised viewers: unlike other professional players who receive appearance fees, he had proposed receiving only victory bonuses.

Lee Sedol's current status as a "7-year unemployed" person since his retirement was also disclosed. Lee Sedol said he began to feel his skills declining from the second year after retiring. "In 2021, I played a rematch against AI, but I lost even with handicap stones. I was so angry that I could only win if we played under 'fair' (?) rules where the AI had 20 seconds and I had unlimited time," he revealed, causing laughter. He then mentioned that on his new variety show "Unemployed Lee Sedol," he is experiencing jobs like checking beer bottles or cleaning building exteriors, and attempted an on-the-spot casting of Heo Sung-tae, who has worked various jobs, showcasing a pleasant rapport.

Heo Sung-tae's surprising past also drew attention. Heo Sung-tae, who was once the top student in his class and had been in charge of overseas marketing at a major corporation for nearly 10 years, shared an anecdote about losing 23 kg in two months while preparing for the audition program "Miracle Audition."

He recalled, "I loved movies since childhood, but I lived in a rural area and only studied, so I put my dream on hold. There was also strong opposition from those around me and my mother. I even persuaded her by demonstrating acting in front of her while she was crying. I maintained my livelihood through packaging toys, loading and unloading delivery packages, and driving as a substitute driver, and after 130 auditions, I landed a role in the movie 'Secret Agent.'"

He also added, "My mother is extremely happy if I play a villain who dies. She loves rich villains in suits the most," which also drew laughter.

Vivid behind-the-scenes stories from the 2016 "Lee Sedol vs. AlphaGo" match, which still remains in the minds of people around the world, were also shared. Lee Sedol confessed, "There was no sense of competitive rhythm or energy that you feel when playing against a human, which was very frustrating. My loss in Game 1 was more of a shock than surprise; I thought I just hadn't shown my true skill. But after losing Game 2, I felt I couldn't win normally, and that was a complete shock."

In particular, regarding the legendary "78th move" that defeated AlphaGo, he said, "I had already prepared for it starting from the 68th move. In fact, it is a strange and nonsensical move," revealing that it was a meticulous strategic move designed to induce a bug in AlphaGo, which drew admiration. He continued, "Currently, AI programs are embedded in the Go world, and AI is taking over the role of professional players who used to indicate directions. I became skeptical about the reason for the existence of professional players, which led me to consider retirement," sharing the decisive factor behind his retirement and leaving a bitter aftertaste.

At this point, MC Kim Suk asked, "Can a Go genius see his wife's moves?" Lee Sedol answered decisively, "My wife's moves are forever unknowable." In response, MC Kim Jong-kook said, "You can't read the moves, but the answer is set. The hardest time when I sweat profusely is when she asks, 'Have I changed today?'" sharing the deep contemplation of a realistic married man, which also brought laughter.

Heo Sung-tae also candidly confessed to hardships that others do not know about. Although Heo Sung-tae received great love after the world-hitting drama "Squid Game," he revealed that panic symptoms had instead found him. He said, "At the time, it felt like all the staff were watching me with the attitude of 'let's see how well you can do it once.' I was terrified of being evaluated as giving the same performance every time, and I felt like I would go crazy," sincerely sharing his state of mind at that time.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original