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Sung Jin-Woo’s transformation inSolo Levelingis one of the most drastic anime character developments of all time. Not only did his powers grow stronger, but his overall appearance also changed. But as much as fans love watching the current version of Jin-Woo, many fans are still clinging to his baby-face version. Understandably, his cute, soft features only had limited exposure in both theSolo Levelinganime and manhwa, leading fans to miss his former appearance.
Long before Jin-Woo becomes thestrongest hunter in Korea, he was dubbed “Mankind’s Weakest Hunter,” holding an E-rank status. From his fragile and scrawny appearance, one could easily assume that he might be the first to go to the afterlife when things turn for the worse. But no matter how injured his body became, one thing about Jin-Woo remained unchanged during his E-rank days: his youthful features.
Solo Leveling Fans Refuse to Move On From Baby-Faced Jin-Woo
Baby-Faced Jin-Woo Still Hits Harder
The first season ofSolo Levelingintroduces an innocent-looking Sung Jin-Woo with a round face, doe eyes, and smooth cheeks. Contrary to other hunters who look like they’re always ready to hit the dungeons, he looks like he doesn’t belong on the battlefield. In addition, he doesn’t even look his age, even thoughhe was over 20 years oldwhen the series started, which speaks volumes about his youthful appearance.
Moreover, Sung Jin-Woo also lacks the cold, stoic look that he always has on his face now. Back then, he often avoided talking to other hunters, displaying a mix of nervousness and an embarrassing expression plastered on his face. He also prefers not to raise conflict with others, knowing that he doesn’t have what it takes to stand up against them. His earlydays as an E-rank hunterwere full of betrayal and fear of death, evident from his big and expressive eyes.
“sweet doe eyed jinwoo was so precious”-RedditorDesigner_Donkey4961
Despite Sung Jin-Woo’s meek appearance, many fans find him cute and irresistible. He may be weak and unsuited for combat, but many fans miss his E-rank days, when he was just an underdog. After all, baby-faced Jin-Woo only had limited exposure in both theSolo Levelinganime and manhwa, as he accelerated to S-rank status in such a short amount of time.
I don’t disagree. I remember back when I was reading the manhwa, I was really into how cute he looked. Then next thing I know, his face structure changed and he got taller. I don’t hate it butI wish we saw more of himlike this. -RedditorStealthStrider
At this point, it’s easy for someone to not recognize Jin-Woo from his old appearance. Due to theside effects of Kandiaru’s blessing, in addition to the outcome of his stat accumulation, his body has undergone a massive glow-up. Even characters like Song Chi-Yul and Lee Joo-Hee were also shocked to see him transform after surviving the Double Dungeon incident.
Solo Leveling Fans Call Jin-Woo “Chin-Woo” Now
From Baby-Faced Jin-Woo to Chin-Woo
Funny, manySolo Levelingfans are calling Jin-Woo “Chin-Woo,” as his chin looks sharper than ever. A significant part of his glow-up is clearly seen in his sharp features, making him look more mature than before. Gone is the baby-faced Jin-Woo that many fans adore, as the new and current version of the strongest hunter in Korea continues toattract the many female charactersin the series.
Sun Chin Woo is the evolution, this Jin is gone -Redditornewbrowsingaccount33
Beyond Jin-Woo’s sharp chin, his personality also changed. His aura commands authority now, almost as if he’s always ready toput another foolish hunter in their rightful place. On top of that, he also holds the S-rank status, a feat only a select few could accomplish in Korea and the rest of the world.
Why Baby-Faced Jin-Woo Still Matters
Baby-Faced Jin-Woo’s Lasting Impact
Jin-Woo’s youthful appearance, or simply his baby-faced self, is a reminder of his humble beginnings inSolo Leveling. It represents his struggles, the pain of being an E-rank hunter constantly betrayed by his peers. It also serves as a symbol of his helplessness toward the strong, as his former weak self constantly dealt with life-or-death situations no matter where he went.
“Weakness is not something to brag about."— Sung Jin Woo
That said, even Jin-Woo’s former self appeared before him when he was in the middle of serious troubleduring the Job-Change quest. His former self mocked him, forcing him to realize he has never changed, as he still finds himself at death’s door. Fortunately, it also allowed him to realize his potential as someone who can overcome challenges one after another and grow stronger inSolo Leveling.
