This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Summary

Jin-Woo's greatest regret is not about his failure to extract shadows like Baruka, Metus, and Kamish.
His lateness on Jeju Island caused the death of Min Byung-Gu, a regret overshadowed by hating his father.
Jin-Woo deeply regrets resenting his father, Sung Il-Hwan, after learning the truth about his sacrifices.

Even the most capable hunter in Solo Leveling is not immune to the darker side of human emotions. Betrayal, pain, loss, and even regret significantly affect Sung Jin-Woo despite the overwhelming power he holds. Among all the actions and decisions he made throughout his journey, one regret weighs heavier than the rest. That said, what could be Jin-Woo's greatest regret?

It’s no secret that Jin-Woo often makes some questionable choices in Solo Leveling. Whether it's extracting the shadows of the dead and turning them into his servants or brutally killing enemies without remorse. The more lives he claims while he grows stronger, the more he loses his humanity. However, his greatest regret doesn’t stem from all the killings he committed but rather from a far more personal experience.

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By Cathlyn Melo

It’s Not About the Shadows Jin-Woo Failed to Extract

Jin-Woo Is Disappointed About Losing Baruka, Metus, and Kamish

Sung Jin-Woo's Shadow Extraction skill, while powerful, doesn’t guarantee a 100 percent success rate. It has limitations, which most of the time annoy him, as he loses shadow soldiers who could have been more useful under his command. One such moment occurred during the Red Gate story arc, where Jin-Woo lost the leader of the ice elves, Baruka, after failing to extract his shadow just because the dungeon boss may be on a higher level than him.

"As long as I'm alive, I'm going to fight with everything I've got." —Sung Jin-Woo

Additionally, Jin-Woo also lost Metus from the Demon Castle, just because the Shadow Extraction won’t allow him to raise demons with contaminated mana. If only Jin-Woo had managed to extract Metus, he could have been an unstoppable force more powerful than Kargalgan. Then there’s Kamish, whose shadow has been successfully extracted, but only for a moment due to the length of time passed since his death.

It’s Not About Jin-Woo's Late Arrival on Jeju Island

Jin-Woo Could Have Saved Min Byung-Gu's Life

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Sung Jin-Woo's late arrival in the fourth Jeju Island ant raid raised many eyebrows, not just from the fans but also from the civilians in the anime. Many criticized him for coming in late, blaming him for the demise of the true MVP of the story arc, Min Byung-Gu. If only Jin-Woo had come with the Korean S-rank hunters from the beginning, fans believe Min Byung-Gu's life could have been spared.

However, back then, Jin-Woo was also dealing with some personal issues at home. Only a few characters, such as Woo Jin-Chul and Go Gun-Hee, know about his personal struggles, which is why many civilians refuse to celebrate his win against the Ant King. If only they had known about the situation with Jin-Woo's mother, they could have been more understanding.

"If I have a bad feeling about something, I'm never wrong" —Sung Jin-Woo

Despite everything that happened, Min Byung-Gu's death is not Sung Jin-Woo's deepest regret. It’s not about failing to extract the Japanese S-rank hunters’ shadows either. After all, Jin-Woo had no need of their strength, as his shadow army had considerably grown stronger at that point.

It’s About Jin-Woo's Resentment to His Father

Jin-Woo Regrets Hating Sung Il-Hwan

As revealed in Solo Leveling chapter 166, Jin-Woo admits that he hates his father, Sung Il-Hwan, for not returning to their lives. Since Sung Il-Hwan went missing, Jin-Woo's life has never been the same. He was supposed to enter college and study, but all he did was look for jobs to support his sister and sick mother. He had to use all of his savings for their family to make ends meet, unlike any other guys his age.

Worse, Jin-Woo had no choice but to risk his life over and over again just to earn a measly amount. He never enjoyed being a hunter, but he had to gather all the courage in his body to survive. In other words, Jin-Woo assumed his father’s position in the family, sacrificing everything from time and energy to all his blood and sweat. Hence, it’s no surprise that Jin-Woo has learned to resent his absent father.

"I can't go back down now. Only the strong will survive!" —Sung Jin-Woo

However, when Jin-Woo learns the truth about Sung Il-Hwan's misfortunes in another dimension, he deeply regrets all the hate he poured into his father. All that was left was sadness, seeing his father fade before him. To honor his sacrifices, as well as his memories, Jin-Woo vows to defeat the Monarchs to protect the world, especially his loved ones.

All in all, Jin-Woo remains painfully human despite his world-changing powers in Solo Leveling. In the end, Jin-Woo's decision to use the Cup of Reincarnation to revise the timeline and undo nearly all the deaths that happened on his watch is proof of how deeply he is affected by loss and regret.

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