Solo Leveling: 8 Supporting Characters Who Deserve Better Development

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This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

A key weakness of Solo Leveling is that most characters besides Sung Jin-Woo don’t get much development. They mainly exist to help him become stronger, rather than having their own interesting stories or changes.

Although Solo Leveling rightfully focuses on Sung Jin-Woo’s incredible journey from being the weakest hunter to the Shadow Monarch, this emphasis means other characters don’t get the development they deserve. Hunters like Cha Hae-In, Lim Tae-Gyu, and Choi Jong-In, for example, feel somewhat underdeveloped.

Cha Hae-In

The Ninth S-Rank Hunter of Korea

Cha Hae-In is considered the most powerful female hunter in Solo Leveling, but the story doesn’t fully showcase her strength and potential. As the only S-rank female hunter in Korea, she could have been a significant figure in challenging traditional roles and leading change within the hunter community.

I’ve noticed that for much of the story, Cha Hae-In feels defined by her feelings for Sung Jin-Woo. Especially towards the end, she often seems to exist primarily as his love interest, and it overshadows her strength as a powerful S-rank hunter. It’s a shame, because she’s capable of so much more, but her role often gets reduced to that of a romantic partner.

Lim Tae-Gyu

The Underrated Guild Master

Lim Tae-Gyu is a highly skilled hunter in Korea, but he doesn’t get much recognition in Solo Leveling. Many fans don’t know his name, simply referring to him as the S-rank archer. To make matters worse, some actually remember him as the assistant to actor Lee Min-Sung, overlooking his abilities as a powerful hunter and leader of a guild.

Throughout the story, Lim Tae-Gyu doesn’t get the opportunity to truly stand out. Despite being skilled and showing great promise, he never reaches his full potential, much like other supporting characters. He ends up being used simply to highlight how powerful the main characters are, appearing only when the plot requires it.

Choi Jong-In

The Ultimate Soldier of Korea

Fans of Solo Leveling are still puzzled by Choi Jong-In’s status as Korea’s Ultimate Soldier, particularly after Sung Jin-Woo became incredibly powerful and surpassed him. Although initially presented as a skilled and disciplined hunter and guild leader who commands respect, Choi Jong-In hasn’t received much attention in the story.

Choi Jong-In is incredibly powerful, but his accomplishments often get lost in comparison to Jin-Woo, preventing many fans from fully recognizing his importance in battle. Though he was initially expected to be a major rival to Jin-Woo, the story ultimately kept him as a secondary character.

Kang Tae-Shik

Jin-Woo’s First Real Opponent

Kang Tae-Shik stands out as one of Jin-Woo’s most interesting foes. Unlike typical villains, his actions suggested a deeper, untold story. He wasn’t motivated by money or status within the Korean Hunters Association; instead, he used his position to easily eliminate other hunters.

Kang Tae-Shik continues to captivate fans, who often speculate about a traumatic past that might explain his cold and cruel personality. He wasn’t just a physical threat to Jin-Woo; he challenged him on a mental and emotional level as well. Many consider their fight in Solo Leveling Season 1 to be one of the series’ best, and some wish the author hadn’t ended his story so soon.

Baek Yoon-Ho

The White Tiger’s Guild Master

Baek Yoon-Ho began as a promising character in Solo Leveling, but he wasn’t featured much as the story went on. His interactions with Jin-Woo always felt charged with potential, hinting he could have been a strong rival or a key contrast to Jin-Woo’s growing power.

I always felt so bad for Baek Yoon-Ho! Like Choi Jong-In, he just kind of got lost in the story, always playing second fiddle to Jin-Woo. Everyone was hyped about his beast form at first, but it never really led anywhere – he didn’t get the character growth he deserved, which was a real shame.

Yoo Soo-Hyun

The Forgotten A-Rank Hunter

Yoo Soo-Hyun was originally planned to appear in Solo Leveling Season 2, but a scene featuring her and Yoo Jin-Ho in a restaurant was cut. This has left fans wondering about her character and role in the series, and it delayed her introduction and the chance to show her connection with Jin-Woo.

Yoo Soo-Hyun is a highly skilled hunter, considered one of the best in Korea, but the story hasn’t actually shown her in action. Like Lim Tae-Gyu, she’s a precise shooter, but instead of getting to demonstrate her abilities, she’s mostly appeared as someone who admires Jin-Woo and filled a spot in the Ahjin Guild after Cha Hae-In left.

Lee Joo-Hee

Cha Hae-In’s Closest Rival

Even though Solo Leveling Season 2 has tried to add more scenes specifically for Lee Joo-Hee, she still doesn’t get enough focus in the story. As a top-level healer in Korea, her skills are essential for dangerous missions, and there aren’t many healers like her. That’s why fans were so disappointed when she left the story so quickly.

We don’t know much about Lee Joo-Hee’s past, which makes it difficult for viewers to understand why she left Jin-Woo and the dangerous dungeons. It would have been more satisfying to see her deal with her personal issues and grow as a character, potentially strengthening her connection with Jin-Woo and the other hunters.

Sung Jin-Ah

Jin-Woo’s One and Only Sister

Many readers of Solo Leveling hoped Jin-Ah, the sister of the incredibly powerful hunter Jin-Woo, would also become a hunter and develop similar abilities. Because they were siblings, there was a chance she could become very strong, but the story quickly dismissed this idea. Jin-Woo didn’t want her to risk her life and insisted she stay out of the dangerous world of hunting.

While Solo Leveling effectively portrayed the strong relationship between Jin-Ah and her brother, and her emotional response to his challenges and successes as a top hunter, the story didn’t fully develop her potential as a strong, independent character, which feels like a lost chance.

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2025-11-10 18:35