Sung Jinwoo, the protagonist of Solo Leveling, has evolved significantly throughout the anime’s first two seasons. Though initially seen as a hero, his connection to the enigmatic System has pushed him toward morally ambiguous decisions, raising the question: Could Jinwoo be the true villain of Solo Leveling? As the series progresses, subtle yet unsettling shifts in his character suggest that, despite his heroic intentions, he may be teetering dangerously close to the dark side.
Jinwoo’s journey is marked by his constant struggle against both external threats and his own changing nature. With his immense power and increasingly questionable actions, fans are left to wonder whether Jinwoo could become the villain he once fought against.
The Early Signs of a Hero’s Fall
In the beginning, Jinwoo is portrayed as a weak and helpless hunter, but his awakening through the mysterious System dramatically changes his life. This newfound strength propels him to surpass his former self, even allowing him to defeat much stronger opponents. However, the consequences of this power surge quickly begin to reveal a darker side to his character.
One of the most notable turning points occurs during Solo Leveling Episode 6, “The Real Hunt Begins.” For the first time, Jinwoo is forced by the System to kill humans. While he initially takes this step out of self-defense, his actions reveal a disturbing satisfaction in his newfound power. In particular, when he kills members of a group led by Hwang Dongsoo, Jinwoo seems to relish the opportunity for revenge—something that had been a long time coming due to years of bullying. Though his actions can be justified as survival, this moment marks the beginning of his moral decline.
“Since the reawakening, I’ve crossed a line I don’t think I can come back from.”
— Sung Jinwoo
This line captures Jinwoo’s internal conflict as he grapples with the darkness slowly consuming him. Although he could have spared some of his enemies, the System’s influence pushes him to act without mercy. His increasing indifference to the lives he takes makes it clear that his moral compass is no longer as reliable as it once was.
A Pattern of Villainous Behavior
As the series progresses, Jinwoo’s actions grow increasingly questionable. In the Red Gate arc, Jinwoo kills Kim Chul, not because he was ordered to by the System, but because he chose to. The anime adaptation softens this moment, making it seem like Jinwoo regrets his actions afterward. However, the original manhwa version is more direct: Jinwoo plans Kim Chul’s death, making it a premeditated act.
The contrast between Jinwoo’s early actions—killing in self-defense—and his later decisions, which are driven by a desire for power and control, raises critical questions. While some of his victims could be considered villains themselves, his willingness to kill without remorse suggests a troubling shift in his character. In fact, the anime even omits several scenes from the manhwa, including one where Jinwoo shows empathy for a serial killer’s violent tendencies. These moments highlight his internal struggle and the ease with which he embraces violence, which makes his journey toward villainy seem almost inevitable.
The Power of Death Within Jinwoo
A significant turning point occurs when Jinwoo’s father, Ilhwan, warns of the dark power awakening within his son. In the Demon Castle arc, Ilhwan hints that the power capable of destroying the world is now open—and it may lie within Jinwoo himself. This revelation becomes even more apparent during the Jeju Island Raid. When Japanese S-Rank Hunter Goto Ryuji faces the Ant King, he feels the same ominous presence that he once sensed during a sparring match with Jinwoo. What Goto failed to recognize is that this power is not just bloodlust—it’s the power of death itself, associated with the Shadow Monarch, Ashborn.
Jinwoo’s connection to the Shadow Monarch grows stronger as he continues to level up under the System’s influence. By the time he reaches level 100, Jinwoo is dangerously close to becoming the vessel for the Shadow Monarch’s full power—a being of death and destruction. The power over death, as shown through Jinwoo’s ability to raise the dead as undead minions, aligns more with traditional villainous abilities than with the characteristics of a hero.
Defying Fate: Jinwoo’s Battle for Control
Despite the overwhelming power within him, Jinwoo refuses to accept his fate as the puppet of the System or the Shadow Monarch. When faced with the Architect of the System, Jinwoo puts up a fierce fight, ultimately defeating the Architect. This battle leads to Jinwoo absorbing the Shadow Monarch’s powers and taking control of his own destiny. He’s no longer a mere pawn but the one in control of the very powers that could bring about the world’s end.
However, with this power comes responsibility. Jinwoo’s moral ambiguity is made clear when he is forced to choose between the world’s governments and his own family. When Jinwoo learns that his father might be a Magic Beast responsible for the death of an S-Rank Hunter, he opts to protect his family rather than side with the global hunters. His decision to declare himself an enemy of all Hunters in order to protect his family shows the complexity of his character—he’s willing to forsake everything, even his own humanity, for the people he loves.
“Hunters should hunt Magic Beasts, naturally. If he’s a Magic Beast, I will end him myself. But if he’s actually my father… I will protect my family even if it means becoming an enemy of all Hunters.”
— Sung Jinwoo
A True Anti-Hero: Jinwoo’s Complex Legacy
In the end, Sung Jinwoo is not a villain, but he is undoubtedly an anti-hero. His decisions, while sometimes ruthless, are driven by his desire to protect those he cares about. Jinwoo’s story is one of transformation—from a powerless young man to the most powerful hunter in the world. Yet, his journey is marked by a constant battle between his overwhelming power and his humanity. In a world where right and wrong are often blurred, Jinwoo becomes the judge, jury, and executioner.
Despite his flaws, Jinwoo ultimately uses his god-like abilities to improve the world around him. His refusal to become the traditional villain, despite the power within him, is what sets him apart. His struggle reflects a deeper truth: that life and death are not inherently good or evil; it is how they are used that determines one’s morality.
Sung Jinwoo’s journey in Solo Leveling showcases the complexity of heroism and villainy. He embodies the idea that even the most powerful beings must grapple with their humanity, and it’s this internal struggle that makes him one of the most compelling anti-heroes in modern anime.
