What was the reason for the death of the Solo Leveling author? Webtoon ending, live-action adaptation protagonist

A summary of the reason for the death of 'Solo Leveling' writer Jang Sung-rak and the shocking ending of the webtoon! Check out the casting news for Byun Woo-suk and Han So-hee as Sung Jin-woo in the Netflix live-action drama right now.

 

1. What was the cause of death of the author of Solo Leveling?

First of all, this is truly sad news. The late artist Jang Sung-rak, who was responsible for the unrivaled artwork of 'Solo Leveling,' passed away on July 23, 2022.

 

Many fans were shocked at the time, and the cause of death was reported to be a sudden cerebral hemorrhage resulting from a chronic illness. The webtoon community was plunged into deep sorrow as he passed away at the young age of just 37. It is hard to believe that this year, 2025, marks the third anniversary of his passing; time really flies.

 

Thanks to the late artist's overwhelming artwork, we were able to meet the character Seong Jin-woo more vividly, and many people still miss him.

2. Solo Leveling: How Will It End? (Spoiler Alert!)

The web novel finished a while ago, but for those of you binge-reading the webtoon, I'll give you a brief summary of the ending!

 

 

Our protagonist, Seong Jin-woo, eventually fully awakens as the 'Shadow Monarch' and engages in an epic battle with the final boss, the Lord of Destruction. The result is, of course, victory!

 

But it doesn't end there. Seong Jin-woo chooses to use the 'Cup of Reincarnation' to turn back time to the past in order to save the people sacrificed in the war.

 

In the end, Seong Jin-woo fights alone for decades in solitude in a dimensional rift that no one remembers, preventing the alien invasion. And it concludes with a happy ending where he returns to a peaceful Earth and lives a seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary life by his family's side. It was a truly neat and touching conclusion, befitting the quintessential 'Munchkin' trope, wasn't it?

3. Who is the lead in the live-action drama? Big casting news!

The news that's been buzzing the community the most lately! It's the news about the Netflix live-action drama. The level of synchronization is already causing quite a stir.

 

Sung Jin-woo: The hottest of the hot these days, actor Byun Woo-seok, has been confirmed! I'm sure many of you became fans through 'Sun Up, Run Away,' and I'm already looking forward to seeing how he pulls off Sung Jin-woo's sharp yet boyish vibe.

 

Cha Hae-in: I heard the role is being played by Han So-hee, an actress with an unrivaled aura. Han So-hee in a hunter suit... This is definitely a must-watch live, right?

 

Production Team: With Director Lee Hae-jun of 'The Story of Kim' and Director Kim Byung-seo of 'Mount Baekdu' co-directing, the quality feels guaranteed!

4. Everything You Need to Know Is Here! Q&A Corner

Q1. The author passed away; how was the webtoon spin-off released?
A. Fellow artists at Red Ice Studio, who worked with Artist Jang Seong-rak, carried on the late artist's legacy by completing the artwork. They drew it with such care that the absence of the artist is hardly felt, bringing great comfort to the fans.

 

Q2. Will actress Kang Mi-na also appear in the live-action drama?
A. Recently, there have been rumors circulating about actress Kang Mi-na's potential appearance, but her agency has taken a cautious stance, stating that "nothing has been confirmed" yet. It seems we will have to wait a little longer for the official lineup to be announced!

 

Q3. When is Season 3 of the Netflix animation released?
A. In addition to the live-action drama, there is also a lot of interest in the animation! Considering the usual production time between seasons, fans are cautiously predicting that it might be released around the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.

 

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