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There isn’t enough time forSolo Levelingto shift the spotlight away from Sung Jin-Woo and give it to another character like Cha Hae-In. As he grows stronger, Cha Hae-In and most of the elite hunters are pushed to the sidelines, unable to keep up with the huge power difference. As a result, anime fans grow curious whether a female character like Cha Hae-In will ever get her true moment to shine inSolo Leveling.
From her appearance, Cha Hae-In stuns the fans with her charisma, strength, and undeniable chemistry with Jin-Woo. Despite beingthe strongest female hunterin Korea, her presence inSolo Levelingnearly fades into the background if not for her intimate connection with Jin-Woo. And unlike her male counterparts who enjoy world-altering story arcs, Cha Hae-In often exists just outside the spotlight.
Cha Hae-In’s Brief but Great Moments
Has Small but Lackluster Feats
So far, the anime adaptation ofSolo Levelingdoes a good job of bringing Cha Hae-In’s character to life. Not only does she make her debut in the pilot episode of the first season, but she also appears throughout the second season, even if her screen time is limited. It’s almost as if the anime intentionally aims to establish her presence early on, setting her up asJin-Woo’s obvious love interest.
Still,Solo Levelingfalls short of giving Cha Hae-In a true main character moment despite her prominence. She shows her prowess during the sparring session between Japan and Korea’s S-rank hunters, proving her worth as theVice Master of the Hunters Guildand the most capable female hunter, but it’s not exactly memorable to fans, especially those who want to see her go all-out in an intense match. Even her brief showdown with Atsushi Kumamoto gets cut short due to Jin-Woo’s intervention.
“Hunter Cha, I’m counting on you!"—Ma Dong-Wook
The same thing happens inthe Jeju Island story arc, where Cha Hae-In leaves a lasting impression on fans, not because of her strength, but because of her unfortunate situation. While she does land the final blow on the Ant Queen with help from her teammates, her severe injuries from the Ant King’s wrath quickly cut her momentum short. Because of this, fans see it as a missed opportunity for her character to push her limits and truly show what she’s capable of in a desperate, high-stakes battle.
A Damsel In Distress
Unfortunately, all Cha Hae-In can do is remain unconscious for the remainder of the raid, which limits her growth as a character. And much like a damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining armor,Cha Hae-In relies on Jin-Wooto save her life, a trope typical for female leads in romance anime. To make matters worse, a deceased character manages to outshine her through his dramatic resurrection for her sake.
Of all the hunters who were present,including even the cameraman, it’s Cha Hae-In who has fallen from grace, likely to add weight to Jin-Woo’s arrival and the seriousness of the Ant King’s threat. Once again, she’s sidelined, reduced to a supporting figure meant to amplify Jin-Woo’s explosive battle with the Ant King. With that, fans are left wishing that Cha Hae-In will one day get what is due for her.
Will Cha Hae-In Ever Get Her True Moment?
Is There a Chance?
Based on the succeeding events in the webtoon, there’s hope that Cha Hae-In will finally get her true moment to shine inSolo Levelingseason 3, once it’s confirmed. If the anime chooses to faithfullyadapt the Ahjin Guild arcfrom start to finish, viewers will most likely get to witness her fight against Jin-Woo’s strongest shadow swordsman. On top of that, she may also get a chance at redemption against the Ant King, now reborn as Jin-Woo’s latest shadow, Beru.
“If she’s aiming for something, I hope it’s not poor judgment on her part."—Sung Jin-Woo to Cha Hae-In
Instead of the Jeju Island arc, Cha Hae-In might actually reach her peak moment in the Ahjin Guild arc, especially since there’s little room left for her to shine in the later story arcs aside from a brief role in the Double Dungeon arc. As the narrative takes a drastic shift toward the loomingthreat of the Monarchs, Cha Hae-In, just like everyone else, will possibly fight off-screen while Jin-Woo naturally takes center stage. So for fans hoping to see her face off against powerful enemies, it’s unlikely to happen, so it’s best to limit expectations.
Despite the lack of standout feats, Cha Hae-In remains relevant as Jin-Woo’s love interest throughout the remainder ofSolo Leveling. Her bond with him continues to grow, though it often feels unearned or superficial due to the story’s rushed pacing. After all, the series shies away from Jin-Woo’s love life in favor of focusing on the most essential events that drive the plot forward.
