Summary

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In will become friends who respect each other in Season 3.
Solo Leveling season 3 will mark the beginning of Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo's slow-burning romantic development.
Jin-Woo will be busy protecting the world, not just Cha Hae-In, in Season 3.

In a power fantasy series like Solo Leveling, the romance department isn’t exactly the main focus of the story. From the beginning, Solo Leveling is all about Jin-Woo's rise to power, specifically his long and arduous journey to become the strongest hunter. Dating female characters, even if it's Cha Hae-In, might be difficult to balance with Jin-Woo's daily grind to acquire more power and reach higher levels.

While Solo Leveling season 3 is expected to change the relationship between Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In, the plot might not require them to start dating as much as fans would love to see them hit it off. Now that the Monarchs and the vessels of the Rulers are entering the picture, Jin-Woo has a lot more on his plate than he could ever ask for.

Solo Leveling: Were Cha Hae-In's Feelings for Jin-Woo Too One-Sided?

Over time, Cha Hae-In's feelings for Sung Jin-Woo grow deeper, but is it too one-sided?

Posts

By Cathlyn Melo

This section contains spoilers for the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In Will Not Date in Solo Leveling Season 3

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In Will Only Become Intimate Friends

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In will become friends who respect each other in Season 3.
Solo Leveling season 3 will mark the beginning of Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo's romantic development.

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In only received a few relevant moments in the last two seasons of Solo Leveling. Their relationship did not improve at all, as Jin-Woo is still reserved and aloof, almost as if there’s a huge wall that separates him from the rest of the characters, including Cha Hae-In. However, there are a few instances in season 2 where he went out of his way to save Cha Hae-In not just once but twice, laying the foundation for their evolving bond.

This dynamic, albeit realistic, might not change significantly in Solo Leveling season 3 based on the small role Cha Hae-In plays in the manhwa. For an S-rank hunter to become more relevant to the next story arcs, they need a miracle to keep up with Jin-Woo's rapid growth. While Cha Hae-In has the motivation to grow stronger, it might not be sufficient to let her stay close to Jin-Woo at this point.

"I am still far from strong enough. There, I could only wait for others to rescue me.—Cha Hae-In

However, that doesn’t mean fans will not receive any intimate moments between Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo next season. Sure, they will remain friends, but a crucial incident sometime during the Ahjin Guild arc could instantly take their relationship to the next level. From just being normal friends to intimate friends, Solo Leveling season 3 could satisfy fans with their stolen glances, kind and protective gestures, and so on.

Jin-Woo Has More People to Protect in Season 3

Jin-Woo's Protection Will Go Beyond Cha Hae-In

solo leveling replace cha hae in as jin woo love interest esil — solo leveling replace cha hae in looking at jin woo and esil

Jin-Woo will be busy protecting the world, not just Cha Hae-In.
Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In's romantic development will be slow.

In Solo Leveling season 3, the stakes are higher, and Jin-Woo must work harder not just to protect his loved ones but also the people around the world. Even those ordinary citizens, including the hunters who once threw him off the bus, require protection, and fans know only Jin-Woo can ensure their safety in the dangerous world of Solo Leveling. In fact, even powerful nation-level hunters like Thomas Andre need Jin-Woo's protection to survive.

Time and again, Jin-Woo has already proven he has more than enough strength to protect Cha Hae-In. But as he climbs the hierarchy, it’s inevitable for him to shoulder the safety of the entire world from the powerful Monarchs who are at war with the Rulers. He needs to leave Cha Hae-In's side to prevent the worst-case scenario, making it difficult for them to establish a romantic relationship and start dating.

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In Will Still End up Together

Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In's Relationship Just Needs More Time to Develop

solo leveling season 3 sung jin-woo and cha hae-in intimate scene — solo leveling sung jin-woo and cha hae-in hugging

Those who have already finished reading Solo Leveling know that Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In will end up together. It doesn’t matter how slow their romantic progress was, as many fans are already satisfied knowing they got married even without dating for real in the side stories of the original manhwa.

"I want to catch up with him and stand shoulder to shoulder with him. For that, I must become stronger."—Cha Hae-In to Sung Jin-Woo

Perhaps the only time in the entirety of the Solo Leveling manhwa where fans can see Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In date each other was before the Seoul invasion. Jin-Woo casually asked Cha Hae-In to accompany him to the amusement park on the excuse that she was his only friend. Their intimate moment, albeit short, was refreshing, as Jin-Woo unexpectedly opens up about his life and bares his heart to Cha Hae-In for the very first time.

While Solo Leveling season 3 might not show Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In as an official couple, there are valid reasons why they can’t start dating as fast as fans would like them to. Patience is always a virtue, and when the anime brings them together in the future, it will surely be worth it.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image