This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Summary

Fans misunderstood Hwang Dong-Soo's real strength.
Chugong confirms Hwang Dong-Soo was stronger than perceived.
Hwang Dong-Soo's downfall was due to fighting opponents above his level.

Solo Leveling is full of fascinating villains who want to end Sung Jin-Woo for different reasons. It’s either that they want to get revenge on him or remove him from the battlefield for personal gain. Among them, one villain stands out due to his intense bloodlust toward Jin-Woo. But despite his immense power, most fans have perceived him as weak. This criticism didn’t go unnoticed, and creator Chugong has finally addressed the sentiments surrounding the villain.

As Jin-Woo grows stronger in Solo Leveling, so does the intensity and power level of the enemies he faces. Amid the threat of the Monarchs and the magical beasts, a recurring villain from the first two seasons has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to unleash his full strength against Jin-Woo. Yet despite his abilities, most fans continue to underestimate him.

solo leveling jin woo season 3 min byung gu return

Solo Leveling Season 3 Will Bring Back This Dead Character

This dead character could possibly appear in Solo Leveling season 3 based on the events of the manhwa.

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By Cathlyn Melo

Solo Leveling's Creator Explains Why Hwang Dong-Soo Felt So Weak

Fans Are Calling Hwang Dong-Soo “Sung Family Punching Bag”

Hwang Dong-Soo is one of the most popular villains in Solo Leveling, not because of his strength as an S-rank hunter but because of his tragic fate at the hands of both Sung Jin-Woo and Sung Il-Hwan. Because of this, many fans have chosen a new nickname for him, calling him the “Sung Family Punching Bag” after his back-to-back defeats against the father-and-son duo of the Sung Family.

"Sung family punching bag 😂poor greed"-Redditor @Akrevics

At first, Hwang Dong-Soo had no business with either Jin-Woo or his father. He was in America, living the life of an S-rank hunter affiliated with the infamous Scavenger Guild. But the moment he heard about his brother’s death, his downfall was inevitable. Going after Jin-Woo and Jin-Ho, not to mention provoking a ruler’s vessel like Il-Hwan of all the characters, was a fatal mistake. In the world of Solo Leveling, going up against the main character almost always guarantees failure, sealing Hwang Dong-Soo's fate.

As Hwang Dong-Soo fails over and over again, his image and reputation among fans have taken a major hit. Despite holding an S-rank title like Choi Jong-In, Cha Hae-In, and Baek Yoon-Ho, many fans find him underwhelming. Even after Jin-Woo extracted him as a shadow, most fans couldn’t help but question why he immediately received a general grade, putting him on par with far more impressive shadows like Beru.

All of these concerns may have reached Solo Leveling’s creator, Chugong, so he likely felt the need to provide an explanation. In a post shared on the Korean forum DCinside, Chugong offered his thoughts on Hwang Dong-Soo. Here's what he had to say, as translated:

“Hwang Dong-Su didn't get much spotlight in the novel because the only ones he fought were Jin-Woo's dad and Jin-Woo himself. But he was very, very strong. Originally, he was an S-Rank hunter who surpassed even Cha Hae-in, and on top of that, he received a power boost from Madam, making him incredibly strong... However, as a result of only being beaten up by overpowered characters, he seems to have been perceived as very weak. That's why many people were puzzled when he received the General rank. I find that a bit disappointing.”

-Chugong

It’s understandable why fans view Hwang Dong-Soo as underwhelming, as his only relevant appearances feature him being battered by Jin-Woo and Il-Hwan in the anime and manhwa. He never had a moment to shine and showcase the full extent of his abilities. Instead, all he got were two one-sided fights with characters who were far stronger than him, which made him look weak by comparison. It’s almost as if his title as an S-rank hunter has no weight at all.

Moving forward, one fan took the discussion a step further by asking Chugong whether Hwang Dong-Soo was better than Goto Ryuji. Chugong replied that Hwang Dong-Soo is "weaker than Goto Ryuji." This simple answer highlights an important detail in Solo Leveling, affirming that S-rank hunters may hold the same title, but they’re far from equal.

How Strong Is Hwang Dong-Soo?

He Is Still an S-Rank Hunter

Chugong reveals that Hwang Dong-Soo is indeed a very strong S-rank hunter, but many fans have misunderstood his true strength. Just because he pales in comparison to Jin-Woo or Il-Hwan doesn’t mean he’s incredibly weak. His position as the main hunter of the Scavenger Guild speaks volumes about his real strength. After all, Thomas Andre would not be interested in him if he weren't strong enough to represent his guild.

"Whether or not I bury those guys inside a dungeon is my choice, got it?"—Hwang Dong-Soo to Woo Jin-Chul

Hwang Dong-Soo also had the privilege of getting an upgrade from Norma Selner, enhancing his strength by about 20 to 30%, making him superior to most S-rank hunters. As mentioned by Chugong, he was even stronger than Cha Hae-In, who belongs to the same fighter class as him. Unfortunately, his downfall came from crossing paths with someone far beyond his level, which ultimately led to his inevitable death in Solo Leveling.