As the oldest active esports caster in South Korea, 26-year veteran Kim Chul-min has yet to put down the microphone. The voice that once commanded the golden age of the StarLeague and Proleague during his time at MBC is just as powerful as ever, now reaching fans through SOOP’s 'Species Championship' and 'E-Score Tournament.'

We caught up with Kim, who remains a fixture in the StarCraft scene long after leaving his high-profile days at major broadcasting networks. Reflecting on a life as turbulent as his long career—having overcome the waves of cancer and business failure—he says he is at his happiest now, continuing his work on a modest scale.

Kim’s current workspace is humble compared to the massive studios of his past, and his income has dropped significantly. "I went from being a building owner to a tenant," he says, but adds firmly, "I can say with certainty that I am much happier now than I was then."

Caster Kim Chul-min shared, "In the past, even as a main caster, I was just a presenter; I lacked a sense of ownership over the content. But with projects like the 'Race Wars' or 'e-Score' that I'm doing now, I am the one in charge. Whether things go well or not, I'm constantly thinking about them, but there's a real sense of growth. Above all, battling cancer made me realize deep down that money isn't everything in life. When I was working just for the sake of working, I only felt empty afterward, but when I'm casting StarCraft—the game I love most—I am genuinely happy and enjoying myself."

With this shift in values, his attitude toward broadcasting has changed 180 degrees. He used to be someone who wouldn't move unless there was a tangible benefit, but now he gladly picks up the microphone for free if it means keeping a promise to fans or helping out with amateur clan matches.

His lack of ambition to expand into major official leagues like the ASL or other popular titles like LoL stems from the same mindset. He explained that he no longer wants to repeat the exhausting cycles of politics, lobbying, and capital-driven pressures he faced during every network reorganization. "My goal is to be a restaurant known for its 'great taste' rather than one with fancy decor," he said, expressing satisfaction with his current low-cost, high-efficiency, and simple lifestyle.

He also offered a candid assessment of the current StarCraft ecosystem on SOOP. Regarding the 'University Wars' (content linked with female streamers), which has become a unique part of SOOP's culture, he pointed out that it is a double-edged sword. While it has successfully brought in users in their 20s and 30s, it has also alienated older fans in their 40s and above who remember the traditional 'melee' leagues.

He noted, "I fully empathize with the old-school fans who were disappointed and left when they saw pro gamers, who used to approach matches with such gravity, focusing on entertainment-driven content. However, this is exactly why individual leagues like 'Race Wars' or 'e-Score' must hold their ground, even while traditional leagues are being pushed down the priority list."

Caster Kim explained that 'Race Wars' and 'e-Score' do more than just soothe the nostalgia of veteran fans; they serve as a 'training ground' for up-and-coming players like Kim Sung-hyun (AlphaGo) and Park Sang-hyun ('Jjap-Je') to leap onto the ASL stage. His philosophy is that the ASL can only truly shine when the foundation of these lower-tier leagues is solid.

He also expressed gratitude toward commentator Im Jin-mook, with whom he works on the 'Species Championship' and 'E-Score.' The two have a 18-year age gap.

He added, "As the oldest person in this scene, I've tried to create a comfortable environment from the very first broadcast to ease the pressure on younger commentators. In fact, I've learned the physiology and trends of internet broadcasting from commentator Lim [Jin-mook], and we've built great chemistry. If production conditions improve in the future, the first things I want to do are increase the tournament prize pool and improve the compensation for Lim, who has been working hard alongside me."

Caster Kim expressed his conviction that the StarCraft IP will remain sufficiently competitive for at least another 10 years. He identified 'the mature attitude of the fans' as a key factor in making that ecosystem sustainable.

"My broadcast slogan is 'Congratulations to the winner, encouragement to the loser,'" Kim concluded. "Because StarCraft is a 1-on-1 game, the mental toll and stress on players are immense. In this fragile StarCraft scene, I hope viewers won't just be consumers, but will embrace the mindset that 'we are building this culture and these players together.' A single malicious comment can break a player. I hope that the many fans who still have a deep affection for StarCraft will step forward and help protect this scene with mature support."