Solo Leveling Author Reveals Shocking Jinwoo & Joohee Romance That Almost Was!

This article contains spoilers for Solo Leveling’s Manhwa and Anime

Summary

Jinwoo and Joohee had feelings for each other, but their romance was not meant to be due to Joohee’s mental health struggles.
Fans would love to see a “what if” story where Joohee overcomes her challenges and stays with Jinwoo.
While Chae Hae-In is the canon partner for Jinwoo, fans still express interest in exploring other romantic storylines.

Currently, “Solo Leveling” stands as one of the most popular series, gaining more heat following the thrilling Jeju Island arc and Jinwoo’s intense battle against the Ant King. While numerous characters shone in Season 2 of “Solo Leveling”, a side character that always catches fans’ attention is Joohee.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the fiery-haired beauty, Joohee, who bravely ventured into the double dungeon alongside Jinwoo. Exciting news has surfaced from the creator’s lips about their heartwarming romance, a tale that is bound to captivate many of us fans!

Solo Leveling Creator Confirms Jinwoo and Joohee’s Romance

Joohee and Jinwoo Had Feelings For Each Other

In the storyline of Solo Leveling, a beloved manga, fans have come up with numerous romantic pairings for the main character, Sung Jinwoo. Among all these fan-made ships, the two most prominent ones feature Sung Jinwoo with Cha Hae-In and Joohee.

In the world of Manhwa, it’s clear that Sung Jinwoo will ultimately be with Cha Hae-In, an elite Korean S-Rank Hunter. The development of their relationship has been subtly unfolding throughout Solow Leveling, a fact that fans have witnessed in Season 2.

It’s important to clarify that Sung Jinwoo may not have a romantic relationship with Joohee, contrary to some speculation. The creator of the series, Chugong, made this clear in a discussion on a Korean forum called Dcinside about a year ago. However, due to the Korean language used in the conversation, many fans might have missed it.

In his statement, Chugong reveals that Sung Jinwoo harbored feelings for Joohee; however, their paths diverged because she struggled to conquer her phobias and psychological troubles. Given her harrowing experiences in the twin dungeon, it’s not surprising that she was left profoundly scarred and failed to recover fully. Regrettably, this emotional hurdle posed a significant challenge for their budding relationship. Here’s what the creator expressed:

[The creator said] “Sung Jinwoo had feelings for Joohee, but they ultimately parted ways due to her inability to surmount her apprehensions and psychological obstacles. Her trauma from the double dungeon was so profound that she never truly healed, which sadly created a stumbling block in their potential relationship.”]

Due to Joohee’s fragile mental state, she found it difficult to cope with Jinwoo’s upcoming decisions.

Additionally, Jinwoo concluded it was appropriate to release her since she had been connected to multiple past occurrences along with him.

Jinwoo did have feelings for Joohee before they went their separate ways.” — Chugong

In a more simplified and conversational manner, Chugong elaborates on the development of Joohee’s character in Solo Leveling as a victim of the warped universe, highlighting how Jinwoo’s actions ultimately helped her overcome her past traumas. He expresses his disappointment that the significance of this aspect of Joohee’s character was not fully appreciated by some fans. Here’s what he specifically stated on the forum:

“Chugong dives deeper into the story behind Joohee, revealing how she was shaped as a victim in the twisted reality of Solo Leveling. He emphasizes that Jinwoo played a crucial role in helping her move past her traumas following the conclusion of the series. Chugong laments that his intended message through Joohee’s character did not resonate with all fans.

To provide further insight, Joohee embodies one of the characters symbolizing the sufferers in this distorted reality.

Initially, she was meant to study at university, but due to her timid nature, she somehow acquired an unsuitable power and reluctantly found herself in an unusual realm against her wishes.

Originally destined for a life as a university student, a shy girl unwillingly stumbled into an extraordinary world when she unexpectedly gained a power that didn’t suit her.

Towards the conclusion of Solo Leveling, Jinwoo strived to restore the unusual world to its original state. Consequently, Joohee could move on from her life in the abnormal realm and return to living as an ordinary girl. This achievement brought Jinwoo great joy.

It seems that the point I intended to express wasn’t fully grasped by the readers, perhaps because my wording wasn’t clear enough.

The fans in the online forum, despite their enthusiasm for the series, have voiced their displeasure about how Chugong developed Joohee’s character, given that she shared the double dungeon adventure with Jinwoo. Many seem to find her character appealing, which is a favorite among this particular audience.

A “What If” Story Where Jinwoo Ends With Joohee

Fans Would Love To Read This

The most intriguing aspect of this discussion might not just be the details we’ve covered, but rather Chugong’s desire to craft a “what if” scenario where Joohee manages her struggles and remains with Sung Jinwoo. Such a story could provide an engaging exploration, given its potential impact on the plotline, as it would significantly change both the original narrative and any subsequent sequels since the protagonist is Cha Hae-In’s son.

It’s possible the author might delve into the hypothetical scenario of what a child between Joohee and Jinwoo could be like. Fans are eagerly anticipating that Chugong won’t abandon this concept and will indeed pen this tale instead.

Who’s The Better Partner for Jinwoo?

Cha Hae-In Remains The Better Choice

Although the creator initially planned a different scenario involving Joohee’s character, in the end, the established conclusion for Jinwoo is with Cha Hae-In, which was the creator’s ultimate decision.

In comparison to Jinwoo, Joohee consistently struggled to match his pace, whereas Cha Hae-In often joins forces with Jinwoo in combat. Ultimately, Joohee holds a B-Rank Hunter status, which means she’d likely be relegated to supporting roles in an adventure series like Solo Leveling, while Cha Hae-In boasts impressive skills that allow her to stand out.

2025-05-01 00:35