Why Sung Jinwoo's Delay Cost Lives in the Jeju Island Raid: A Heartbreaking What-If

Summary

Jinwoo’s delayed but crucial intervention in the Jeju Island Raid was the only bright side to a tragic event.
Jinwoo’s unmatched strength would have easily defeated the Ant King, saving lives if he had joined the raid earlier.
Jinwoo’s early participation could have averted the massacre, but the repercussions may have exposed Korea to danger.

In the grim annals of Solo Leveling, the Jeju Island Raid stands out as one of its bleakest chapters, inflicting a heavy toll on Japan and Korea’s elite hunters. This raid exposed the ominous past associated with the island, underscored the perils of S-Rank gates, and rekindled the sorrow of numerous lives lost. The late intervention by Sung Jinwoo was the lone glimmer of hope amidst this fourth raid. However, what if he had acted earlier? What if he had been part of the raid team from the outset?

Absolutely, Jinwoo’s influence and input were highly valued. Yet, if he had shown up sooner, it might have averted yet another tragic repeat of a massacre in the “Solo Leveling” series.

The Devastation Of The Jeju Island Raid

Sung Jinwoo’s Countermeasures

Hunter	Sung Jinwoo
Debut	Chapter 1
Epithets	The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind Korea’s 10th S-Rank Hunter Shadow Monarch 6th National Level Hunter The Ghost 2nd Rate Asian Hunter
Job	Shadow Extraction Shadow Preservation Shadow Exchange Monarch’s Domain

Sung Jinwoo decided against participating in the Jeju Island Raid due to his recently revived mother. His loyalty towards his family overrode his hunter duties, opting to stay with loved ones rather than tackle the high-risk S-Ranked dungeon. He trusted the skills of his fellow hunters and was confident they could handle the mission without him, a belief proven correct as they had already subdued the Ant Queen successfully. However, the Ant King proved unexpectedly formidable, catching even Jinwoo off guard. Thankfully, he had taken precautions in anticipation of such an eventuality.

Tracking The Status Of The Hunters

During a joint training session with elite hunters from Japan and South Korea, Jinwoo secretly positioned a decoy soldier in the background to monitor specific hunters. If these tracked hunters were to shed this shadow soldier – a scenario that occurred when Goto Ryuji died – Jinwoo would instantly detect the situation and swiftly transport himself to their assistance.

Regrettably, the tactic implemented wasn’t perfect, as it lacked full proofness. Initially, although Jinwoo utilized his shadow soldiers as guides, bi-directional communication was absent, leaving him unaware of the ongoing circumstances until Goto Ryuji perished. Furthermore, these soldiers were conditioned to act only upon receiving commands and not based on instinct. Consequently, even if their designated hunter found themselves in a tight spot, they wouldn’t intervene unless instructed to do so. While this precautionary measure did manage to save some hunters at the end of the day, there were still numerous casualties – a calamity that could have been avoided had Jinwoo acted sooner.

Jinwoo’s Unparalleled Strength

The Ant King Would Be No Match

It’s highly unlikely that the Ant King would defeat Jinwoo. Before the raid began, Jinwoo had demonstrated impressive abilities, even holding his own against Goto Ryuji, Japan’s top-ranked hunter, without showing any signs of strain. His extensive exploration of the Demon Dungeon granted him numerous beneficial skills, weapons, and shadow soldiers that the Ant King could not overcome. If Jinwoo had joined the raid team earlier, many lives could have been saved as the Ant King’s primary objective was to defeat the human king, targeting Jinwoo instead would have likely spared the other hunters from harm.

Jinwoo As A One-Man Army

Apart from Jinwoo’s propensity for keeping his talents hidden, it’s quite possible that he could have singlehandedly conquered the S-Rank gate without help. In other words, Jinwoo, accompanied by his metaphorical shadow army, might have been capable of defeating both the ants and their leaders, the Ant King and Queen, altering the course of the battle significantly, as there would have been no casualties involved. While it may seem challenging, Jinwoo’s history of overcoming obstacles and advancing through levels is the very essence of the anime, so any such development would likely be accepted by fans.

The Cons Of Sung Jinwoo’s Early Participation

The Danger Of Information On Jinwoo

From an observer’s perspective, it’s common for fans to primarily empathize with the hunters who lost their lives during the Jeju Island tragedy. Understandably so, as preserving human life is paramount. However, had Sung Jinwoo acted sooner, a series of events could have potentially unfolded that might have placed Korea in a vulnerable position. The most significant consequence could have been Jinwoo’s exposure to the communist forces.

Word-for-word rephrasing:

Jinwoo’s feats of power and skill are becoming widely known, as elite hunters vie for a chance to spar with him and influential organizations scour for any details they can find. Given that the raid was broadcasted publicly, his talents were showcased extensively, potentially offering information detrimental to Korea to adversaries who could easily exploit it.

News of Jinwoo’s power and skill is spreading rapidly, as top hunters are eager to challenge him, while organizations search for any tidbits they can find. Since the raid was aired live, his abilities were displayed prominently for all to witness, potentially providing information that could be harmful to Korea if intercepted by enemies.

Informal and conversational:

Everyone’s talking about Jinwoo these days – top hunters can’t wait to fight him, and organizations are digging for dirt on the guy! With the raid being broadcast, his skills were on full display, which could have given away sensitive information that enemies might use against Korea.

Japan’s True intentions

When Japan joined forces with Korean hunters, they harbored an objective that could either boost Japan and its hunters or weaken Korea’s military power significantly. Regrettably for Japan, over half of their S-rank hunters perished, including their strongest ones, causing their plans to crumble even before they were set in motion, and instead, they suffered a backlash. If Jinwoo had acted sooner and thwarted the massacre, Japan’s intentions might have remained concealed, allowing their deceitful scheme to unfold, potentially placing Korea in a precarious position down the line.

The Raid’s Lasting Impact

The Price Korea Paid

Sung Jinwoo’s early involvement in the raid had both advantages and disadvantages, but the benefits significantly outweighed the drawbacks. His presence would have prevented the massacre altogether, saving numerous hunters’ lives, and finally brought Korea the triumph they had longed for after three failed raids previously. With his unparalleled strength, formidable shadow army, and ingenious strategies, Jinwoo could have been a cornerstone of the raid team, providing protection, or even the lone hero capable of clearing an S-Rank gate. However, his commitment to his family and poor communication skills delayed his participation. Although he should have acted more promptly, his intervention ultimately secured Korea’s survival, but at a considerable cost.

2025-04-08 20:38

Why Sung Jinwoo’s Delay Cost Lives in the Jeju Island Raid: A Heartbreaking What-If