Solo Leveling is one of the biggest manhwas to grace the internet. It follows E-Rank Hunter Sung Jinwoo as he supports his family and navigates through a world where “gates” teleport superhuman Hunters to monster-filled dungeons. On one catastrophic raid, however, Jinwoo and a group of fellow hunters meet face-to-face with their demise.
But that wasn’t the only thing Jungwoo met in that dungeon as he also had a fateful encounter with the System—an encounter that would change his life forever. After allowing himself to become a player of the System, it granted him abilities like allocating points to his stats and unlocking new combative and defensive skills. Although this entails Jinwoo’s major power spike in the first season of Solo Leveling, fans are eager to know more about the rapid development of his personality.
The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, Pre-System Sung Jinwoo
At the start of Solo Leveling, Sung Jinwoo is shown as a benevolent and weak boy either thrown around by low-level monsters or running from them. Despite being dubbed “The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind,” stopping his hunting career was never a part of his plan. He continued participating in dungeon raids to pay for his mother’s hospitalization and support his sister, Sung Jinah.
Jinwoo lacked as a hunter and showed no signs of strength or magical powers to warrant a higher ranking. However, he made up for it with his quick wit and indomitable spirit to close dungeon gates—even if it meant going home with a few bandages and bloody clothes. If push came to shove, pre-System Jinwoo knew how to escape stronger enemies to avoid a brush with death.
As for his fellow hunters, that did not stop them from closing their doors on Jinwoo. They felt like an E-Rank Hunter, who barely managed to stay alive, hindered their raids due to his combative and defensive inabilities. Albeit not accepted by his colleagues, this pushover still walked with a smile on his face even after being downright insulted. It was rather simple for him to acknowledge the truth about his strength: He was okay being weak. After all, wasn’t that his only option?
Jinwoo continued to move forward for the sake of his family despite moving inches closer to death with every gate he entered, not knowing that this redeeming quality would eventually lead him to an ability given by the System. Now, the roles have been reserved, and the hunted has finally become the hunter.
How Did the System Affect Sung Jinwoo’s Personality?
After Sung Jinwoo receives his second awakening (a phenomenon where Hunters and their abilities become stronger), the System gives him daily tasks with rewards such as upgrade points and loot boxes. Now donning his new ability, Jinwoo is no longer the weakling from Solo Leveling‘s first few episodes. From barely surviving raids to wiping dungeons on his own, his new mission is to become the opposite of his moniker: the strongest Hunter of all mankind. His utmost desire to grow more powerful has finally borne fruit—receiving a powerup that perfectly suits him and his wit.
During the 6th episode of Solo Leveling, Jinwoo participated in a raid that only involved him to make up the numbers. Unaware of him, it was a trap set up by the hunters, led by Hwang Dongsuk, who were only planning to mine the crystals for money and exclude the fill-ins from the share—even going as far as killing Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho. The System then gave him a quest to kill all six of them, awakening his “kill or be killed” senses as the Player. With no reluctance, Jinwoo took their lives and was not burdened by his decisions and actions.
Almost as if transforming into a new man, Jinwoo’s journey for power ultimately uncovers a dark aura that kills on command. Albeit strategic, his wit which helped them through the double dungeon is now more manipulative and self-beneficial. What started as a black-and-white moral compass is now gray and blurred—even ready to take on the consequences of his decisions head-on. Is this rapid physical and mental development a result of his resolve to become stronger, or is it because of the System and its challenges that Jinwoo had to transform himself from benevolent to coldhearted?
This shift of personalities after being granted an ability by the System has viewers on the edge of their seats. However, that doesn’t mean Sung Jinwoo has succumbed to the darkness. What came to light was his newfound confidence and discipline that helped him rapidly and consistently level up his abilities. It’s as if the challenges from the System made him incredibly headstrong. His indomitable spirit remains untouched also as evidence of his wanting to grow stronger and overcome hordes of enemies and stronger challengers. Slowly but surely, he grew more assured of his nurtured powers to survive amongst the fittest.
From the Shadows to the Shadow Monarch
An epic comeback story is cooking up as the weakest Hunter in society finally arises (get it?) to the top as an immovable force of humanity. Sung Jinwoo’s transformation can be attributed to the countless challenges he’s faced along the way—the double dungeon, Hwang Dongsuk’s raid party, the castle, etc. With these in his rearview mirror, he reached unspoken power levels and gained the title “Shadow Monarch.”
However, none can be more influential in his personality change than the System itself. As evidence, Sung Jinwoo said, “The System uses me, and I use the System.” This newly acquired power has helped him gain confidence in himself and his ability to defeat whatever and whoever challenges him. Because of this power, however, Jinwoo quickly puts his moral compass astray and lets the quest logs control his fate.
Some viewers might not have noticed yet, but the subtle narrowing of his eyes had already hinted at Sung Jinwoo’s personality change. From gentle and favorable to a more determined and somber demeanor, Solo Leveling‘s protagonist has bore his teeth against this dog-eat-dog society. If embracing this darkness is what it means to protect his loved ones, then solo leveling is a path he must take. As viewers dive deeper into the plot and with Season 2 on the horizon, Jinwoo is poised to grow even more powerful—but will his personality change even more? Darker, perhaps? That’s something viewers will have to find out in the future!