Duality: Will "Chobra" Cho and the bridging of dichotomous cultures

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Anniversary

Much has happened since his latest job switch, a role he stepped into after being an on-camera host, caster and translator for the South Korean broadcaster OnGameNet. As Creative Producer (since the interview, Chobra has been promoted to Senior Producer)at ESL, Chobra's job is to help visualize and bring to life an artistic vision for esports tournament broadcasts. He's well qualified for it; his resume includes some of the biggest events in the industry for games like StarCraft II and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Chobra's career took him to a creative position at ESL. After all, he honed his skills at one of the earliest premier stages of esports all the way in South Korea. He's been immersed in both American and South Korean influences, offering him a lens into both cultures. And he's turned that duality into his advantage.

Life here, and life there

Chobra spent the first few years of his life in the United States. He was born in Akron, Ohio, and spent some time in California before his father was offered a job in South Korea. Chobra was four years old, and the whole packed up and moved across the Pacific. Though immersed in a Korean language environment at school during some of his most formative years, he credits his mother for encouraging him to continue his English. "My mom taught English [in South Korea] at the time. She tutored English," he recounts. "She would make sure I read books in English, watch movies, like Disney movies, without the subtitles and just keep that up."

All of that would prove to have another purpose, as his mother always had the intention of bringing Chobra and his older sister back to the United States. It wasn't until age 11 that he returned stateside.