Korea's Darkest Secret - Investment Policy

Summary

S-Ranks are not invincible – Jeju Island Raids showed even the strongest hunters can be defeated.
Sung Jin-Woo’s grand entry – saved hunters from Ant King in the fourth Jeju raid.
Dark history of the Jeju Island Raids – hunters pushed to the brink, significant loss of life, and lasting impact on Korea.

In the “Solo Leveling” series, the Jeju Island Raid arc stands out as one of the most thrilling and action-packed segments, astonishing many viewers with the remarkable skills displayed by both the hunters and monsters, particularly the stunning debut of Sung Jin-Woo.

As I bear witness to the unfolding events of a Jeju Island Raid in this captivating narrative, I can’t help but recall the somber shadows that this island has carried for decades. The mere mention of these raids still lingers like an unpleasant aftertaste on the palates of those who hunt tales of old. Such was the darkness that even a helping hand from another nation was needed to confront it. So, what made the Jeju Island Raids one of the most harrowing episodes in the chronicles of Solo Leveling?

Jeju Island

A Land Claimed By Ants

Rank	S-Rank
Boss	Ant Queen Ant King (Hidden Boss)
Magic Beast	Ants
Deaths	Min Byung-Gyu Goto Ryuji Akari Shimizu Kenzo Tanaka Mari Ishida Ippei Izawa Tatsumi Fujishima Kei Eunseok
Survivors	Cha Hae-In Baek Yoonho Choi Jong-In Lim Tae-Gyu Ma Dongwook Sung Jinwoo Minoru Hoshino Atsushi Kumamoto Kanae Tawata

Before the emergence of the S-Rank gate on Jeju Island, one can only speculate about its state. Yet, it’s widely thought that it couldn’t have been as dire as it became post-appearance. Typically, gates are designated for hunters of comparable or higher rank. But with an S-Rank being the highest, the S-ranked hunters were tasked with clearing the dungeon.

Sadly, when the gate first opened, the hunters on hand lacked the strength to shut it, resulting in their failure. Consequently, Jeju Island was transformed into an uninhabitable nightmare filled with Ants, monsters that had escaped from the dungeon. Unlike most monsters, these Ants displayed signs of intelligence and rapid evolution. This intelligence and evolution allowed the Ants to completely take over Jeju Island, transforming it into a fortress where they continued to breed and evolve into increasingly dangerous creatures. All the while, they posed a constant threat to the safety of those residing near the island.

The Jeju Island Raids

The First Three Unsuccessful Attempts

In response to the persistent growth of Ants, the Korean Government undertook three separate operations to eradicate the creatures inhabiting Jeju Island over a span of three years. Despite these operations not being depicted in any series, the planning for a fourth raid suggests that the previous attempts were unsuccessful. Regrettably, several lives were lost during these operations, but Eunseok’s death in the third raid proved to be the decisive factor leading to public outcry and dissatisfaction.

I witnessed the profound impact of his passing on his fellow hunters; it drove Byung-Gu to step away from his pursuit. The loss resonated deeply within Korea as well. As one of Korea’s esteemed hunters, his absence left a significant void that led the Korean Government to halt any further attempts to reclaim the island. They held out hope that starvation would eventually claim the Ants. However, this state of affairs persisted until it became apparent that the ants could take flight from the island.

The Fourth Jeju Island Raid

The Last Hope

The finding of ants’ evolution prompted a combined effort between top hunters from Korea and Japan to halt the ants before they could perfect flight. A straightforward strategy was implemented: Japanese elite hunters (S-Ranks) would lure out the worker ants from their colony, while Korean elite hunters (also S-Ranks) would infiltrate the ant nest to eliminate the Ant Queen and halt further reproduction and development.

Given that they had eighteen elite S-Rank operatives on their team, one might expect the mission to be straightforward. Yet, they encountered an unexpected issue, a mystery they hadn’t foreseen and couldn’t prepare for. This unforeseen complication added another grim chapter to the already troubled history of the Jeju Island Raids.

The Ant King

In a rapid evolutionary process, an Ant became a formidable ruler, pushing his species towards dominance, and the Ant King’s emergence resulted in gruesome fatalities among several island hunters. During the fourth raid, the chilling method of beheading victims left a lasting impact. Not even the renowned Japanese hunter Goto Ryuji was spared from this brutal treatment.

Among all the deaths, Min Byung-Gu’s was the most heartbreaking, given his past as a survivor of prior attacks and initial intention to avoid the island entirely. When the last group of Korean hunters found themselves in an impossible situation with no hope for survival, Sung Jin-Woo emerged.

Humanity’s Saving Grace

Ultimately, Sung Jin-Woo stepped in to assist the hunters. Although his tardy entrance stirred debate among viewers of the series, as they felt he could have halted the escalation of the tragic events on Jeju Island, his timely arrival was warmly welcomed. He courageously took down the foot soldiers harassing the hunters and even squared off against the Ant King, emerging victorious in every aspect where the Ant believed it held an advantage.

Following a prolonged struggle and clear demonstration of power by Sung Jin-Woo, he ultimately defeated the Ant King and miraculously rescued Cha-Hae-in from the edge of death. As relief washed over hunters and all of Korea that this terrible ordeal had finally concluded, it couldn’t bring back the lives lost among the other hunters. These heartbreaking events, along with those from previous raids and even civilian casualties, are now indelible marks in the dismal annals of the Jeju Island Raids and Korean history as a whole.

The Significance Of The Jeju Island Raids

Limitations in Ability And Fear Of National Failure

The Jeju Island Raids weren’t merely intense and exhilarating fights with casualties scattered throughout. Instead, they revealed the fragility of top-tier S-Rank hunters when confronted with overwhelming power. Many believe that S-Ranks are unstoppable against any monster they encounter, but the Jeju Island Raids challenged this notion. They demonstrated that even the mighty S-Ranks can be defeated and fear failure just like lower-ranked hunters.

Viewers experienced a heart-pounding emotional journey, as they witnessed the might and skills of top-tier hunters, followed by their struggles and eventual despair. At times, spectators were moved to tears or leaped in anticipation. However, the island of Jeju will bear the tragic reminder of the fallen hunters’ blood, even with humanity emerging victorious.

2025-04-02 18:26

Korea’s Darkest Secret