Shim Yu-jin
Overview
Shim Yu-jin (born March 15, 1992) is a South Korean former professional gamer, current e-sports commentator, and broadcaster. Her main disciplines are StarCraft II (Terran) and League of Legends (Support), and she stood out as a female professional gamer in the male-dominated e-sports industry. Starting her career in the early 2010s, she placed in various tournaments, proving the potential of female gamers. After retiring, she transitioned into commentary and YouTube content creation, contributing to the popularization of e-sports.
Main Content
Early Life and Introduction to Gaming
Shim Yu-jin was born in Seoul and showed a keen interest in games from a young age. During middle school, she was introduced to StarCraft: Brood War by a friend, and in high school, she competed in amateur tournaments to hone her skills. After the release of StarCraft II in 2010, she began serious training, aspiring to become a professional gamer—a rare path for a female gamer at the time.
StarCraft II Era
In 2011, Shim Yu-jin gained recognition by finishing as runner-up in the 'StarTale Female League,' a women's StarCraft II league. She then joined the 'NS HoSeo' team, officially starting her professional gaming career. Her main race was Terran, and her strengths included aggressive early-game strategies and excellent multitasking. She reached her peak in 2012 by winning the 'Women's StarCraft II League' and also placed third in the women's division of the 'IeSF (International e-Sports Federation) World Championship' held that same year. However, due to the gap with the men's league and the limitations of the women's league, she announced her retirement as a StarCraft II professional gamer in 2013.
Transition to League of Legends
After retiring, Shim Yu-jin took a brief break before switching to League of Legends (LoL) in 2014. Playing as a support, she joined an 'amateur team' and participated in the 'LoL Challengers Korea Women's League' in 2015, leading her team to the semifinals. Her signature champions were Thresh and Janna, praised for her precise skill usage and high teamfight contribution. In 2016, she won the 'Women's LoL Tournament,' achieving success in both disciplines. However, as the women's league shrank and stable income became difficult, she fully ended her professional gaming career in 2017.
Commentary and Broadcasting Activities
After retiring as a professional gamer, Shim Yu-jin reinvented herself as an e-sports commentator. Starting in 2018, she commentated on StarCraft II and LoL matches for 'SPOTV Games,' earning acclaim for her calm voice and in-depth analysis. Notably, as a female commentator, she showed strength in strategy and meta analysis, gaining trust from viewers. In 2020, she launched the YouTube channel 'Shim Yu-jin's Game Stories,' uploading game reviews, pro gamer interviews, and e-sports news, surpassing 100,000 subscribers. Since 2022, she has also been active as a streamer on 'AfreecaTV' and 'Twitch,' playing various games and interacting with viewers.
Social Contributions and Awareness
Drawing from her experience as a female gamer, Shim Yu-jin advocates for gender equality and diversity in e-sports. In 2021, she participated in the 'Korea e-Sports Association's 'Female Gamer Support Program' as a mentor, and in 2023, she was appointed as a public relations ambassador for the 'Game Culture Foundation,' working to prevent gaming addiction and promote a healthy gaming culture. In interviews, she has said, "There were many moments when my abilities were doubted because I was a woman, but proving myself through skill was the best way," encouraging aspiring female gamers.
Latest Trends
As of 2024, Shim Yu-jin is primarily active on YouTube and Twitch while also continuing e-sports commentary. In March 2024, she joined the commentary team for 'LoL Champions Korea (LCK),' covering the regular season, and since January 2025, she has been commentating on 'StarCraft II: Remastered's 'ASL (Afreeca StarLeague).' Additionally, in December 2024, her YouTube channel surpassed 200,000 subscribers, showing steady growth. Recently, news broke that she is preparing to establish an 'E-sports Academy for Female Gamers,' sparking interest. In February 2025, she is collaborating with the 'Korea e-Sports Association' on planning the '2025 Women's E-sports League,' which aims to launch in the second half of 2025.
Related Topics
- [[StarCraft II]]
- [[League of Legends]]
- [[E-sports]]
- [[Female gamers]]
- [[Professional gamer]]