How Sung Jin-Woo Could Have Prevented The Jeju Massacre, Explained

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Summary

  • The Fourth Jeju Raid was a success despite initial hunter losses, thanks to Sung Jin-Woo’s last-minute intervention.
  • Sung Jin-Woo chose family over immediate intervention, trusting fellow hunters’ capability in the mission.
  • Sung Jin-Woo’s delayed entry exposed Japan’s hidden agenda to sacrifice Korean hunters, foiling their plans.

In the captivating narrative of “Solo Leveling”, the operation on Jeju Island stands out as one of the most significant turning points. It offered pulse-pounding action and showcased remarkable teamwork from the brave hunters who took up the mission, not to mention Sung Jin-Woo, the unsung hero who ultimately saved the day.

Despite Sung Jin-Woo’s significant involvement in the raid, a number of hunters met their demise at the hands of ants prior to his intervention, raising questions among fans about this decision. Some attribute it to “aura-farming,” while others speculate that Jinwoo’s actions might be linked to the intricate layers of the Solo Leveling universe and whether he could have prevented the loss of several hunters, given various theories surrounding the situation.

The Jeju Island Raid

Korea’s Final Attempt

In the realm of Solo Leveling, S-Rank gates are scarce and hard to find. The one that surfaced on Jeju Island in Korea was downright terrifying. After three failed attempts, numerous hunters and civilians lost their lives, and a new breed of aggressive ants posed a significant threat beyond the island’s borders. In the end, a fourth assault was launched.

Despite several hunters being lost, the raid proved victorious, largely due to Sung Jin-Woo’s timely intervention. The Raid Team, in itself, was highly effective, capable of clearing the gate without Sung Jin-Woo had the Ant King not emerged. They were well on their way to success, demonstrating excellent coordination and action, ultimately achieving their objective: defeating the Ant Queen.

Instead, the straightforward raid transformed into a full-blown battle among abnormalities when the Ant King and Sung Jin-Woo arrived on the scene. In this epic conflict, it was Sung Jin-Woo who came out triumphant.

Why Did Sung Jin-Woo Not Join The Raid Earlier?

Placing Family First And Trust In Fellow Hunters

Although Sung Jin-Woo’s heroic efforts in defeating the monsters that made Jeju Island uninhabitable are undeniable, some fans speculate that a more favorable outcome could have been achieved if he had joined the raid from the beginning. This raises an intriguing question: Why did he decline Chairman Go Gunhee’s invitation to participate in the raid? It appears that Sung Jin-Woo showed no inclination towards political matters, which also dismisses the theory suggesting he was merely biding his time until Goto died.

In the world of anime and manga, Sung Jin-Woo elected to remain among his family, a decision prompted by his mother’s recent recovery from Eternal Slumber. Desiring to share this precious moment with her, he chose to stay close. Furthermore, he held faith in the capability of the A-Rank hunters embarking on the mission to manage the situation effectively. He went so far as to arrange for his shadows to be at the disposal of other hunters, should an Exchange become necessary.

Shadow Limitations And Broadcast Delay

In the story, some fans speculate that although Sung Jin-Woo controlled the shadows of multiple hunters, he didn’t possess the power to sense their experiences at the time in the series. This is because he hadn’t yet developed the ability to share their senses, so he would only become aware if one of them died. This theory seems plausible since it was after Goto’s death that he manifested himself, and Min Byong-Gu didn’t have a shadow on him, so Sung Jin-Woo couldn’t sense the massacre happening to him.

In a more practical scenario for the hunters, live broadcasting would have been beneficial to track their status, but there was a 10-minute delay in the transmission. This meant that whatever was being shown on the broadcast occurred 10 minutes prior, which provided the Ant King ample time to accumulate additional kills before Sung Jin-Woo could be aware of it. Interestingly, Sung Jin-Woo chose not to watch this live feed in the anime but stuck to reading about it in the manga. Fortunately, he made his appearance when necessary regardless.

How Sung Jin-Woo Could Have Prevented The Massacre

Deploying Stronger Shadows

Although Sung Jin-Woo initially chose not to participate in the raid and isn’t entirely at fault for the delay in his response, some fans think he could have taken actions to prevent the tragedy. One possible solution is deploying stronger soldiers to support the hunters. However, the soldiers he assigned were insufficient to handle even regular ants, let alone the Ant King. Moreover, they followed orders without initiative, turning them into harbingers of doom rather than active participants.

A more effective choice might have been soldiers like Igris and the High Orcs, as they are stronger and possess the ability to reason. Although they may not have protected everyone, the number of missing hunters would likely have decreased. He would also have been alerted to the dire circumstances through the use of mana by these soldiers, enabling a quicker reaction time and potentially fewer casualties. Since the Ant King was an unusual case, there wasn’t much else that could be done to prevent this tragedy without firsthand knowledge.

The Significance Of Sung Jin-Woo’s Actions

Exposing Japan’s Hidden Agenda

Although Sung Jin-Woo’s choice may not have been the ideal way to thwart the massacre, it unveiled Japan’s hidden motives behind dispatching their hunters to assist in the invasion of Jeju Island.

Although tending to the ant hills outside the colony appeared altruistic on the part of Japanese hunters, it was actually a ruse intended for self-preservation, with Korean hunters being unknowingly led into peril. Moreover, they devised a plan to elevate Goto to a National-Level hunter as an additional objective.

Unfortunately for them, Sung Jin-Woo’s unexpected arrival thwarted their plans as most of their hunters, including Goto, perished at the hands of the Ant King. However, Sung Jin-Woo arrived in time to save all but one Korean S-Rank hunter, Byung-Gyu, thus rendering Japan’s secret mission a total failure.

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2025-04-01 20:38