This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.
One of the major issues in Solo Leveling is its lack of meaningful character development beyond Sung Jin-Woo, as most supporting characters serve primarily to accelerate his growth rather than experience their own progression or story arcs.
While it’s understandable that Solo Leveling centers around Sung Jin-Woo’s drastic transformation from the weakest hunter to the Shadow Monarch, this heavy focus comes at the expense of supporting character depth, leaving hunters like Cha Hae-In, Lim Tae-Gyu, and even Choi Jong-In feeling underexplored.
Cha Hae-In
The Ninth S-Rank Hunter of Korea
Cha Hae-In is widely regarded as the strongest female hunter in Solo Leveling, yet her role fails to reflect the depth and complexity expected from someone of her status, fame, and power. In addition, as Korea’s only female S-rank hunter, she had the potential to challenge gender dynamics and become a crucial voice within the hunter industry.
Unfortunately, for most of the story, Cha Hae-In is defined by her unconditional admiration and affection for Sung Jin-Woo, especially in the last remaining story arcs. Whenever she appears, she functions mainly as Jin-Woo’s romantic interest rather than a formidable S-rank hunter in her own right.
Lim Tae-Gyu
The Underrated Guild Master
Despite being one of the most capable hunters in Korea, Lim Tae-Gyu is largely relegated to a minor role in Solo Leveling. Most fans don’t even know his name, addressing him as the S-rank hunter who uses bows and arrows to fight magical beasts. Worse, some remember him as actor Lee Min-Sung’s personal assistant, rather than a skilled S-rank hunter and commanding guild master.
As the plot unfolds, the story fails to give Lim Tae-Gyu a chance to shine. He was one of those Solo Leveling characters who never peaked, despite his expertise and obvious potential. Just like the other supporting characters in this list, he eventually lost relevance, appearing only when needed to illustrate the power of far stronger beings.
Choi Jong-In
The Ultimate Soldier of Korea
Many Solo Leveling fans are still confused about Choi Jong-In’s title as the Ultimate Soldier of Korea, especially after Sung Jin-Woo rises to unparalleled power and overshadows him. Despite being introduced as a disciplined and highly skilled hunter and guild master with a commanding and intimidating aura, Choi Jong-In is given very little narrative focus.
While Choi Jong-In’s explosive and destructive firepower is truly impressive, his feats are often overshadowed in comparison to Jin-Woo’s, making it difficult for many fans to fully appreciate his role and contributions to the battlefield. He was expected to become one of Jin-Woo’s closest rivals, but the story never develops him beyond a minor and supporting role.
Kang Tae-Shik
Jin-Woo’s First Real Opponent
Looking back, Kang Tae-Shik was one of Jin-Woo’s most intriguing opponents. Unlike other villains, his motivations hinted at a backstory that could have been further explored. For context, Kang Tae-Shik was working under the Korean Hunters Association, not because he enjoyed the salary and benefits that came with his position, but because it allowed him to kill hunters with ease.
To this day, fans are still fascinated by Kang Tae-Shik, wondering whether he suffered from a trauma that shaped his cold and ruthless nature. He was also an opponent who could challenge Jin-Woo not just physically but also mentally and psychologically. His showdown with Jin-Woo in Solo Leveling Season 1 remains one of the best fights, and it would have been nice if the author had not killed him too early.
Baek Yoon-Ho
The White Tiger’s Guild Master
Baek Yoon-Ho is yet another supporting character who started strong in Solo Leveling but ended up largely sidelined as the story progressed. Every time he encountered Jin-Woo, there was an obvious tension that suggested he could have been a compelling rival or foil to Jin-Woo’s rise to power.
Similar to Choi Jong-In, Baek Yoon-Ho gradually faded into the background, with his role constantly overshadowed by Jin-Woo. While his beast transformation earned excitement from fans, it was not enough to secure him meaningful character development.
Yoo Soo-Hyun
The Forgotten A-Rank Hunter
Yoo Soo-Hyun was supposed to debut in Solo Leveling Season 2, but for some reason, her scene with Yoo Jin-Ho inside a restaurant was removed, leaving fans disappointed and curious about her role. This deletion not only postponed her introduction but also erased an opportunity to establish her character and relationship with Jin-Woo.
Beyond the fame and glamor, Yoo Soo-Hyun is one of the most promising A-rank hunters in Korea, yet she was never seen raiding a dungeon in the manhwa. Like Lim Tae-Gyu, she is a marksman who shoots with accurate precision, but the story never gives her a chance to show off her skills. Instead, she was just used as one of Jin-Woo’s admirers, who took Cha Hae-In’s place in the Ahjin Guild.
Lee Joo-Hee
Cha Hae-In’s Closest Rival
While Solo Leveling Season 2 has made the effort to insert more anime-original content for Lee Joo-Hee, it doesn’t erase the fact that she is still underutilized in the story. As one of the high-ranking healers in Korea, her abilities are vital for sustaining high-risk missions. There are not a lot of good healers in the story, which makes her early and abrupt exit from the story all the more frustrating to fans.
Moreover, there’s little to no background provided on Lee Joo-Hee’s personal history. Without insight into her past, fans find it hard to accept her decision to step away from Jin-Woo and the dangers inside the dungeons. It would have been nice to see her overcome her trauma and inner struggles, which could have deepened her relationship with Jin-Woo and other hunters.
Sung Jin-Ah
Jin-Woo’s One and Only Sister
As the only sister of the strongest hunter in Solo Leveling, many fans expected Jin-Ah to awaken and become a hunter, potentially gaining powers that could parallel or even match her brother’s. Her blood ties with Jin-Woo suggested a narrative opportunity to explore her growth as a hunter, but Solo Leveling quickly shut down that possibility by Jin-Woo’s objection, insisting she stay safe and never enter the dangerous industry.
On the bright side, Solo Leveling did a decent job in showing Jin-Ah’s close bond with her brother and what she felt witnessing his struggles, victories, and the weight of being the nation’s most reliable hunter. Still, Jin-Ah’s narrative promise as a potentially powerful and independent character remains unfulfilled, making it a missed opportunity.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
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Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
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Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
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Genta Nakamura
Yoo Jin-ho
