Solo Leveling: Jin-Woo Is Best MC But Not the Author’s Number One Pick

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The competition for the most beloved main character on Crunchyroll has concluded, and it’s Solo Leveling‘s Jin-Woo who clinched the top spot. His triumph was not unexpected, as he swept the world off its feet with his captivating charm, immense power, and ability to control the dead in such a short span of time. Needless to say, fans of anime had plenty of opinions about his victories over Frieren and Maomao, but Jin-Woo’s recognition will endure regardless of future events.

Interestingly, the creator of Solo Leveling had an unexpected preference regarding their most beloved character. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not Sung Jin-Woo who holds the title of Chugong’s top pick. Despite Jin-Woo’s formidable power and impressive skills, another character takes the lead. If you’re curious to find out who that is, this article provides the answer.

Sung Jin-Woo Is a Fan-Favorite Anime Character

Crunchyroll Hailed Jin-Woo as Best MC of 2025

  • Jin-Woo beats Maomao and Frieren as Best Main Character in Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards.
  • Fans love Jin-Woo not just for his outrageous strength but also for his redemption story.

The influence of Sung Jin-Woo on the anime community is evident and hard to ignore. He could very well be the next big anime sensation, given his widespread presence – from social media platforms to popular anime websites. It wouldn’t be shocking if, in time, he rivals or even surpasses the popularity of established icons, particularly if A-1 Pictures successfully adapts the Solo Leveling series into an anime.

With a cool, memorable quip, Jin-Woo garnered an enormous following among Solo Leveling enthusiasts who were eager to back him. His magnetic personality amassed him abundant aura points from battle to battle, leaving fans mesmerized by tales of rapid ascension to divinity. Consequently, when he was put forward for the top character award on Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards, supporters anticipated his victory, regardless of the competition.

“Weakness is not something to brag about.”—Sung Jin-Woo

Obtaining the title further boosted Sung Jin-Woo’s fame. Defeating Frieren and Maomao is a remarkable accomplishment, given that they are prominent female characters from different series. However, it was Sung Jin-Woo who received the accolade from the streaming giant. This was due to him being chosen by both judges and viewers, indicating his high popularity among them. It’s clear that many consider Jin-Woo as their preferred character compared to other nominees.

Solo Leveling Author’s Favorite Character Is Not Jin-Woo

Chugong Picks Kang Tae-Shik as Their Top Character

In contrast to Jin-Woo’s victory in the best main character award, the author of Solo Leveling prefers another character within their own storyline. Rather than selecting Jin-Woo, they opted for a Season 1 character who stands out as both charismatic and ruthless – none other than Kang Tae-Shik, a B-rank villain.

In the beginning, Kang Tae-Shik made his debut in Solo Leveling during season 1, episode 3, titled “It’s Like a Game“. His role at that time was as an inspector for the Korean Hunters Association. However, it wasn’t out of affection for the position or its perks that he took on this role. Instead, he relished the chance to eliminate hunters, particularly those categorized as rehabilitators – a group often overlooked when it came to suspicious activities.

“If you become a B-rank hunter, you become separated as a high-class hunter.”—Kang Tae-Shik

It’s quite unexpected, but the creator of Solo Leveling actually prefers the villain, Kang Tae-Shik, over all the other good characters. On a popular Korean site, DC Inside, Chugong responded to a fan’s question and shared why he favors Kang Tae-Shik. Essentially, writing scenes for Kang Tae-Shik is effortless for Chugong, and he found his story’s conclusion particularly satisfying. Chugong seems to be quite fond of Kang Tae-Shik, possibly because the character defied typical villain stereotypes.

Jin-Woo Killed Kang Tae-Shik in Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling’s Author Killed Their Favorite Character Early On

Kang Tae-Shik was among the initial humans that Jin-Woo eliminated in Solo Leveling. Their duel within the dungeon was a highly acclaimed scene throughout the series, characterized by its gripping intensity, swift pace, and brutality. Significantly, their meeting served as a precursor to Jin-Woo’s remarkable power, since Kang Tae-Shik anticipated that Jin-Woo would surpass everyone else in Solo Leveling in terms of strength.

Kang Tae-Shik’s storyline in “Solo Leveling” was cut short prematurely when he was killed by Jin-Woo, a tragic turn of events given that he was the author’s beloved character. Fans still lament this loss, feeling that more could have been done with his narrative. The series might have delved deeper into his story, perhaps even reintroducing him as an antagonist in future plotlines, instead of Hwang Dong-Soo, who has since become known as the Sung Family’s punching bag.

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2025-07-28 17:45