This article contains spoilers from theSolo Levelinganime and manhwa.
Summary
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WhileSolo Levelingprimarily focuses on Sung Jin-Woo’s story, the series also features a diverse cast of characters with unique backgrounds, skills, and abilities. From Cha Hae-In to national-level hunters like Thomas Andre, Solo Leveling’s creator, Chugong, has crafted a wide range of interesting characters. However, among them, one character has truly captured Chugong’s heart.
Sung Jin-Woo might be everyone’s favorite character inSolo Levelingdue to his compelling transformation frommankind’s weakest hunter to its strongest. It’s not a bad thing at all, but sometimes, even the creator, like many fans, is drawn to unexpected characters, regardless of whether they’re a villain or not. So, other than the strongest hunter, who is Chugong’s favorite character inSolo Leveling?
Affiliation:
Korean Hunters Association
In the early episodes ofSolo Levelingseason 1, a skilled assassin-type hunter named Kang Tae-Shik fights toe-to-toe with thenewly awakened Sung Jin-Woo. Unlike Hwang Dong-Suk, whom Jin-Woo fought before the events of the Dungeon and Prisoners story arc, Kang Tae-Shik is clearly on a different level. Not only is he a B-rank hunter, but he also stands out for his cold, sadistic personality.
While Kang Tae-Shik is affiliated with the Korean Hunters Association as one of its inspectors, he shows little to no regard for the law, especially within the confines of the dungeon, where he freely slaughters rehabilitators to satisfy his bloodlust. However, he never anticipates that anE-rank hunter like Sung Jin-Woowill meddle in his nasty business and ultimately end his life in the most brutal fashion.
“If you become a B-rank hunter, you become separated as a high-class hunter."—Kang Tae-Shik
Unfortunately, despiteKang Tae-Shik’s potential to play a larger rolein future events, his death instantly removes him from the plot. Yet even so,Solo Leveling’s creator, Chugong, is among the many fans who consider Kang Tae-Shik their favorite character apart from Jin-Woo.
On DCinside, an online forum where Korean fans frequently ask questions and discuss everything related to Solo Leveling, Chugong unexpectedly opened up about the reasons why Kang Tae-Shik is his favorite character among others in the series. Here’s what the creator had to say:
“The reason why I said Kang Taeshik is my favorite character. Jinwoo is, of course, rank zero, so we are excluding him from the conversation. The reason is simple. The scenes with Kang Taeshik are easy to write. It was like that even during his first appearance, and it was like that again when he appeared later.
Maybe it’s because he’s an unpredictable character but also one with clear motives and goals, so even if I don’t worry about describing him, he comes alive and moves on his own.
For a writer like me, who is slow at writing and worries a lot… I really like characters like Kang Taeshik. He was enjoyable to write, and his story had a satisfying conclusion…
Rather, I felt it was a shame that his screen time was too short. It would have been nice if he could have appeared in more episodes. That’s why when the manhwa artist drew Kang Taeshik so much cooler than I had imagined, I secretly rejoiced and sang.
Now that I think about it, even in the side stories, the Hwang brothers were mentioned, but there was no mention of Kang Taeshik. If a sequel comes out, I’d like to talk about his story. However, I don’t know if Kang Taeshik’s part will be written well at that time…
In any case, I’d like to see you again, Mr. Taeshik!”
-Chugong
Interestingly, despite Chugong’s admiration for Kang Tae-Shik, the B-rank hunter ends up asone of the early casualtiesin the series. This sudden exit left many fans wondering about the “what ifs” surrounding Kang Tae-Shik. Given his potential, many fans believe that he could have been more instrumental in the plot had he somehow survived the fight with Jin-Woo. Others also think that the story could have gone in darker, more complex directions, just as Hwang Dong-Soo relentlessly antagonizes Jin-Woo to the end.
Will Kang Tae-Shik Ever Return?
Kang Tae-Shik’s Brief Appearance In the Manhwa
While the creator is open to talking about Kang Tae-Shik’s story in a sequel, the B-rank hunter will remain missing in action for the remainder ofSolo Leveling. This doesn’t mean fans will not be able to see him again, though, unless the anime skips his cameo appearances in the remaining story arcs. Should the anime stay faithful to the manhwa, Kang Tae-Shik is set toappear in the Final Battle Arc, all thanks to Sung Jin-Woo. Ironically, Jin-Woo was the one who put an end to Kang Tae-Shik’s life, but by using the Cup of Reincarnation, he will give him a chance to return.
However, fans should not expect much, as Kang Tae-Shik obviously will not return as one ofJin-Woo’s formidable shadows. Instead, he will likely be the same Kang Tae-Shik but will exist in the new timeline made possible by Jin-Woo’s utilization of the Cup of Reincarnation. Based on the events in the manhwa, he will be the same ruthless and twisted B-rank assassin hunter, contrary to expectations that he would have a change of heart.
“For me, it’s much more fun to kill people than monsters."—Kang Tae-Shik
For now, fans will have to wait for Kang Tae-Shik’s possible cameo in the next seasons ofSolo Leveling. As long as the anime remains faithful to the source material, there’s a huge chance fans will see him in the Final Battle Arc. The story is far from over, but fans are encouraged to readSolo Leveling: Ragnarokto learn more about Kang Tae-Shik and what happens to him in the revised timeline.
