Summary
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Solo Levelingis an action and fantasy series with a sprinkle of romance that lies in the chemistry between Cha Hae-In and Sung Jin-Woo. Although romance is far from the series’ main focus, Cha Hae-In and Sung Jin-Woo’s relationship gradually and quietly develops amidst the dangers and horrors of the world. While their dynamic somehow evolves, are Cha Hae-In’s feelings for Jin-Woo too one-sided?
In the early story arcs ofSolo Leveling, Cha Hae-In isn’t initially positioned as a potential love interest for Jin-Woo. That role belongs first to Lee Joo-Hee, the B-rank healer, who supported Jin-Woo back when he was just a lowly E-rank hunter. Hae-In only enters the picture after Joo-Hee retires and Jin-Woo becomes a player in the system. Their first encounter marks the beginning ofan emotional shift in Cha Hae-In, but not quite for Jin-Woo.
Cha Hae-In’s Feelings for Jin-Woo Are More Visible
Love at First Smell?
For the most part ofSolo Leveling, Cha Hae-In carries the weight of emotional labor inher dynamic with Jin-Woo. From the moment she saw him, she knew that Jin-Woo was different from any other hunter she had ever met in her life. His smell wasn’t repulsive and there was an air of mystery around him that drew Hae-In’s attention and caught her off-guard. From that moment on, Cha Hae-In quietly reserves a spot for Jin-Woo in her thoughts and, eventually, in her heart.
“Perhaps, you’re interested in me?"—Jin-Woo to Cha Hae-In
As the plot thickens inSolo Leveling, Hae-In’s feelings deepen as well. From treating Jin-Woo as a friend to seeing him as a love interest, she wrestles with denial before accepting and realizing her emotions. Who would have thought thatCha Hae-In, “The Dancer,“would fall in love with Jin-Woo, given her cold and aloof disposition? That said, Jin-Woo plays a significant role in her character development, quietly shaping the way she opens up to others and to herself.
Jin-Woo’s Uncharted Feelings
Sung Jin-Woo is initially so impressed by Cha Hae-In’s aura, which reminds him of theKorean Hunters Association’s Go Gun-Hee—and that’s about it. Instead of following Cha Hae-In like a typical infatuated male protagonist from a romcom anime, Jin-Woo never pursued her and treated her like a real love interest. For Jin-Woo, it’s better to spend his time finding ways to level up to accomplish his personal goals as fast as possible instead of dating girls. In short, dating was not on Jin-Woo’s radar.
“Why are you overdoing it? There’s no need to go so far to join our guild."—Jin-Woo to Cha Hae-In
Moreover, Sung Jin-Woo isn’t the type to open up about his feelings and thoughts to other people. Evenwith her sister Jin-Ah, Jin-Woo rarely shares his frustrations, worries, or the burdens he carries. He always keeps his thoughts to himself, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise when he finally broke down, bawling his eyes out after his mother recovered from Eternal Slumber. He showed a different side of himself, one that fans either found incredibly moving or unexpectedly jarring.
There’s an Emotional Distance and Absence
Jin-Woo Is Too Focused on His Goals
It’s pretty obvious that there’s an emotional distance betweenJin-Woo and Cha Hae-Indue to various circumstances, leading some fans to question the authenticity of their relationship. To many Solo Leveling fans, it feels like their relationship was simply forced, especially since Jin-Woo never really made a genuine effort to get to know Cha Hae-In on a much deeper and more personal level. And because of a lack of emotional investment, Jin-Woo’s feelings for Hae-In seem vague and questionable.
Understandably, Jin-Woo is too focused on accomplishing his personal goals, such as leveling up,finding a cure for his mother, and protecting the world from cosmic-level threats. Meanwhile, Cha Hae-In watches from the sidelines with constant admiration, much like a fan gazing at a popular and distant idol. The difference is that Cha Hae-In is the only viable love interest who can keep up with Jin-Woo in terms of courage, strength, and determination among the female characters.
“That’s not it? What on Earth is she thinking?"—Jin-Woo to Cha Hae-In
The funny thing is that Jin-Woo is too dense to reciprocate Hae-In’s feelings, yet there are times when he can be so blunt and confident he catches her off guard. Still, there’s a clear emotional absence on Jin-Woo’s part, as his expression around Hae-In remains the same: silent, calculating, and ambiguous. Sure, Cha Hae-In receives kind gestures and protection, but those actions aren’t enough to confirm Jin-Woo’s feelings for her because he also provides the same level of treatment towards his family and friends.
Is Cha Hae-In’s Feelings Too One-Sided?
Final Verdict
It’s fair to say that Cha Hae-In’s feelings for Jin-Woo are one-sided inSolo Leveling. In fact, she may be the perfect example of the painful reality of one-sided affection given to ananime protagonist who only cares about obtaining powerand saving the world. Despite this, Hae-In is still a good match for Jin-Woo as she’s selfless enough to never demand anything in return. In other words, she’s not an annoying love interest who gets in the way.
In the end, Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo find love and comfort in each other. Even though her feelings remain unspoken and unanswered for most ofSolo Leveling, they still end up with each other and live life anew. Perhaps, in Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In’s relationship, their ending is what truly matters and not the slow and uneven journey.
