Why Jinwoo Hid His Powers in Solo Leveling and Risks It All

by

Summary

  • Jinwoo avoids fame to focus on family
  • Jealous hunters may target him because of his quick rise.
  • Jinwoo cares more about protecting others than chasing achievements.

The following contains minor spoilers for the Solo Leveling manhwa.

In the action-packed anime series titled “Solo Leveling“, the main character, Sung Jinwoo, initially puts significant effort into concealing his power to advance and become stronger from others. It’s puzzling as to why Jinwoo feels compelled to maintain such secrecy, especially since it appears inevitable that his powers will eventually be exposed if he continues to participate in defending the world against dungeon gates.

Why does Jinwoo seem to be so secretive about his abilities from his fellow hunters, friends, and family in Solo Leveling? Initially, it appears that the character with a hidden power was an essential aspect of the storyline, but over time, this element seems to have been less emphasized in the series.

Avoiding Fame

Jinwoo Doesn’t Seek Glory

It appears that Jinwoo’s eagerness to conceal his powers and work discreetly stems from a deep affection for his family, as opposed to seeking public recognition of his power. In the realm of Solo Leveling, powerful hunters are renowned figures with their lives under constant scrutiny by the world and media. Jinwoo prefers to maintain his concentration on his mission to heal his mother from her mana-related ailment and support his sister in completing her education. He also seeks to minimize any significant disruptions to the hunter hierarchy, fearing potential confrontations with envious peers who might seek to hinder his progress towards the pinnacle.

This location appears to be swarming with reporters. Have any thoughts on why they’re here?” (Baek Yoon-Ho observing the presence of journalists in Episode 19)

A significant event in the story unfolded when Mingsung Lee, an A-rank hunter, declared his full-time commitment to battling dungeon gates. This decision attracted considerable attention, and it’s clear that if Jinwoo were to become an S-rank hunter, the spotlight would shine even brighter. During his S-rank debut on Jeju Island, Jinwoo tried to prevent parts of the fight from being recorded, indicating his wish to keep certain aspects of his power hidden. This secretive nature aligns with Jinwoo’s character, who strives to bear the world’s burdens and protect as many people as possible. As the story of Solo Leveling progresses, it becomes evident that Jinwoo is willing to go to great lengths for his ideals. For instance, he manipulates time to roll back 10 years, allowing him to confront the Monarchs alone without endangering Earth’s inhabitants, despite the fact that his actions would remain unknown to everyone else.

Revealing Himself

Why Did Jinwoo Change His Strategy?

Initially, it appeared that Jinwoo made an effort to hide his powers and abilities, but later on, he seemed less determined in maintaining this secret. The question arises as to why Jinwoo eventually chose to come into the public eye despite still harboring fears about rivalry and the impact of his fame on his family?

“Everyone is different. I changed a lot because a lot’s happened.” -Sung Jinwoo in Episode 10

It’s possible that this enhancement in power occurred due to Jinwoo’s extraordinary growth. By the finale of Season 2, Jinwoo stands out as significantly stronger than any top Korean hunter collectively. Additionally, he acquired the skill to create a protective shadow shield for anyone he chooses, providing him with increased assurance regarding the safety of those he cherishes. Furthermore, he can swiftly teleport himself to them if needed, thanks to his shadow swapping ability. As Jinwoo’s might became indomitable, it seems likely that his concerns about safeguarding his family diminished, as no one could realistically challenge him.

Revealing his status as a formidable hunter would bring both fame and attention, but also serve as a warning to potential troublemakers. Anyone daring to disturb Jinwoo would face not just the anger of Korea’s strongest hunter, but also the anger of a grateful public he had saved. Jinwoo strategically chose the right time to unveil himself, leveraging the public’s protection for his benefit, though he knew he would continue to worry about powerful adversaries targeting his loved ones – a risk he was ready to take given his substantial power increase.

Solo Leveling can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon.

Read More

2025-05-17 18:26