Solo Leveling Sung Jinwoo is an excellent main character is a statement that many fans agree with, although other anime fans do not think so. But among countless strong shounen characters, Jinwoo still has his own unmistakable charm. So what makes him so special? Let's go through 5 reasons why this character is loved with Hobiverse!
Despite the mixed reactions to Solo Leveling at the Anime Awards 2025 , the character Sung Jinwoo has become irreplaceable in the Action - Fantasy - Shounen - System anime genre. Winning the Best Main Character award, Sung Jinwoo is clear proof that the character has touched the hearts of viewers, joining the ranks of heroes of the new era.
The Journey from Weak to Strong – A Familiar Yet Fascinating Motif
Right from the first chapters, solo leveling Sung Jinwoo, the main character, is excellent not because he is inherently good. Jinwoo started out as an E-rank hunter, so weak that he was called a “burden”. But this is what makes it easy for readers to put themselves in Jinwoo’s shoes. Jinwoo’s journey of progress is not too new, but is told with a reasonable pace and clear emotions, making it easy for readers to sympathize and follow to the end.
Although the content of “leveling up” is not too strange in manhwa, the way Jinwoo gradually matures is portrayed with perseverance and reality. Many people say that he won easily, but his life-and-death encounters and daily training efforts cannot be ignored.
Power comes with responsibility, not just to be “cool”
Jinwoo is strong, that's something everyone knows. But what makes Solo Leveling Sung Jinwoo an outstanding protagonist in the eyes of many is that he uses that power to protect his mother, his sister, the people in his neighborhood, and later all of humanity. Jinwoo is extremely thirsty for power, but it's not for fame or power.
Even though he became the most powerful hunter, or later Shadow Monarch, Jinwoo still retained his human emotions. Many other main characters also retained their humanity, but in a context of "god-level" power like in Solo Leveling, not being dominated is extremely difficult.
Battles are beautiful yet deep
The next important reason why solo leveling Sung Jinwoo the main character is excellent is thanks to the beautifully staged battles. The visuals in both the manga and the anime are pleasing to the eyes of action lovers.
Of course, beauty alone isn’t enough. Jinwoo’s combat moves often come with clear goals and specific emotions. His summoning of shadows isn’t just a beautiful skill, it’s also a tactic, a memory, a trace of his former companions. That creates a depth rarely seen in the fantasy-action genre, which usually emphasizes visuals.
A quiet but not boring personality
Jinwoo is not the type of character who talks a lot or has a sense of humor. He is quiet, doesn't show much emotion, and sometimes seems a bit cold (the anime has improved a lot compared to the original). But the longer you watch, the more you realize that inside he is a person who always thinks of others and has clear standards.
It is the consistency in his personality, not too exaggerated, not too colorful, that makes him an ideal model in the eyes of many fans, especially those who love steadfast and introverted characters.
Making a big impact on the modern manhwa wave
It cannot be denied that besides Solo Leveling, there have been a series of new stories born with the “leveling up” system and the main character “strengthening” gradually. But it is not that there are no works that have used the image of Jinwoo to contribute to promoting that trend.
Solo Leveling Sung Jinwoo is an excellent protagonist not only because of his personality or strength, but because he represents an effective storytelling style: simple, coherent, but enough to make an impression. And sometimes, it is that enough that helps the character become closer to the viewer.
See also: Solo Leveling vs Frieren: Who is more deserving at Anime Awards 2025?
So, Solo Leveling Sung Jinwoo is an excellent protagonist not because he is “alone to take on the world”, but because his journey is built reasonably, his personality is not forced and his strength always goes hand in hand with the specific situation. Currently, Jinwoo has represented the leveling story line and proven the appeal of the character as well as the plot. Do you think Sung Jinwoo is an impressive character at the Anime Awards 2025? Let Hobiverse know.
