Sung Jin-woo, like many other hunters in the world of Solo Leveling, frequently faces terrifying situations where he must make decisions under immense pressure. However, his potential only increases when he acquires exceptional powers beyond his wildest dreams, feeling responsible for the world around him.
Along with his newfound abilities, Jin-woo naturally makes many mistakes throughout his journey, especially regarding his understanding of his own strength and the living world he is a part of, which is constantly threatened by powerful monsters. Below are some of the biggest mistakes made by Sung Jin-woo and how they could have been avoided.
1. Taking on Kim Chul’s Team
During the Red Gate incident, A-rank hunter Kim Chul had a confrontation with his team, leading to their downfall against the hunters they underestimated. When his group suffered a brutal attack and realized that Sung Jin-woo’s team had grown significantly stronger, Kim Chul became envious of Jin-woo’s success.
Even though Kim Chul was a skilled leader and a competent hunter, Jin-woo went too far in eliminating him, considering the distinctive strength of his opponent. Jin-woo even went so far as to invite him to his party, which was a reckless and unnecessary action. Jin-woo could have easily dealt with Kim Chul by simply notifying him, but the protagonist decided to handle the situation in the most brutal way possible. This overconfidence caused him to lose touch with the reality of the lives he was taking, especially since he had dealt with many hunters during this time. The elimination of Kim Chul marked the first time Jin-woo faced a moral dilemma, and he should have maintained his humanity by refraining from excessive violence that could have clouded his judgment.
2. Underestimating Hwang Dong-soo’s Potential
During the International Guild Conference arc, Sung Jin-woo represented South Korea at a prestigious meeting hosted by the Hunters’ Federation. While he was busy, Yoo Jinho was caught by Hwang Dong-soo, who had been waiting for an opportunity. At this point, Jin-woo had just acquired a powerful S-rank item, but Hwang recognized the difference in strength between him and Jin-woo.
By targeting Jinho, Hwang had already set a plan to trap Jin-woo, hoping to create a situation that would lead to a confrontation between him and Thomas Andre. Jin-woo immediately entered the fray, finishing off the strongest national-level hunters in the world. Although he achieved a decisive victory, every confrontation could have ended differently, especially if Hwang had successfully executed his plan in the weeks leading up to their encounter.
3. Ignoring the Double Dungeon’s Dangerous Nature
When Jin-woo was still the weakest hunter in the world, he had to take risks to support his family. Therefore, when it came time to decide whether to explore the double dungeon, he thought about his family and the potential benefits. However, the risks were unlike anything he had encountered before.
After facing numerous threats, Jin-woo realized he was not prepared for what was about to happen. It would have been wiser to avoid such a high-risk expedition, especially since this decision could have led to severe consequences for many other hunters. Although it was his choice, given the overwhelming circumstances and his own strength, Jin-woo made a terrifying decision, and many hunters paid the price for it.
4. Neglecting to Investigate His Father’s Disappearance
After the second awakening, Sung Jin-woo was incessantly requested to complete missions. Despite having many responsibilities, he still turned to gather elements to save his father’s life and restore his memories. However, even when Jin-woo knew that his father was still alive, he didn’t put much effort into uncovering his father’s whereabouts.
By the time the two finally reunited, it was unfortunately too late, and Jin-woo witnessed Il-Hwan’s death. Even though the Hunters’ Guild allowed him to lead a normal life with his father, the pain from witnessing his father’s death could not be avoided.
5. Failing to Extract Information from The Architect
After being ambushed by a double dungeon, Sung Jin-woo was plunged into a situation where he had to rely on the system that had chosen him as a player. He struggled to grasp the true nature of the system, but most of his questions went unanswered until he returned to the double dungeon and encountered the administrator, Kandiaru.
The Architect placed Sung Jin-woo in a state resembling a simulation, hoping that Ashborn would arrive and fulfill his own goals through him. However, Jin-woo continued to encounter ancient scripts that hinted at significant hidden dangers related to the source of his powers. After regaining his composure following the clash between the Hunters and the Rulers, Sung Jin-woo failed to push Kandiaru to reveal his real intentions, or the greater implications for his future.
6. Not Joining the Jeju Island Raid Team
When the raid team was preparing for a critical mission on Jeju Island, everyone was eager to hear Jin-woo’s decision. However, in a moment of reflection, Jin-woo decided to prioritize his family instead. After a long period of intense training following his awakening, he wanted to spend as much time with his family as possible.
However, the decision not to participate in the raid from the beginning resulted in devastating consequences. Not only did the South Korean hunters face significant casualties, but even the S-rank Min Byung-Gyu also lost his life. If Jin-woo had joined the raid from the start, the South Korean hunters might not have faced such severe losses, and it’s likely that the Japanese hunters would also have had a different outcome.
7. Overconfidence Against the Monarchs
During the Monarchs War, Sung Jin-woo had to confront a formidable enemy when Sillad attacked Go Gunhee while he was vulnerable. At this moment, he planned to use Shadow Exchange to return to South Korea, targeting the Hunters’ Guild, and he was determined to take back his life.
The battle against Sillad, the Monarch of Frost, was intense and raised serious concerns about Jin-woo’s ability to prevail. However, it was clear that the situation could have ended differently for him if he had not been overly confident. Sillad continued to execute his plan with the help of Querehsha and Rakan. Jin-woo fought valiantly but ultimately faced defeat against the Monarch of Plagues and was left severely weakened after a battle against two other Monarchs. This could have led to his demise if Sung Il-Hwan hadn’t intervened at the right time and allowed him to recover.
Sung’s overconfidence in his own abilities hindered him, especially after the previous confrontation with Sillad. However, his tendency to rely solely on himself and not form strategic alliances might have prevented him from achieving his best potential.
