Solo Leveling has had one of the strongest runs of anime ever since its beginning in 2024. In 2024, Solo Leveling got its first anime season, and in 2025, it returned stronger than ever with season 2. With that in mind, it has been a year since Solo Leveling's second season, and awards for anime series have kickstarted. The results for South Korea's most recent anime awards for 2026 have been revealed, and fans were definitely shocked at the results.
Solo Leveling's Best Episode Has Finally Been Dethroned
Solo Leveling season 2 was big, but this iconic shonen series has dethroned its best episode.
In South Korea, Jinwoo’s own home country, he was beaten by quite a few other characters for the title of best male character of 2025. The grand winner of this title was none other than Bakugo, a secondary main character from My Hero Academia. Not only that, but Jinwoo was also beaten by both Deku and Akaza, which is truly surprising for all fans of the series.
Sung Jinwoo Was Beaten by Bakugo in His Own Home Country
- Bakugo is the Number 1 Male Character At South Korea’s Anithing 2025 Awards
South Korea has just revealed its biggest anime awards for all the anime series that aired in 2025. Among these awards, fans got to discover who South Koreans believe to be the best male character of the year, and much to the surprise of the fans, it's not Sung Jinwoo, from the popular South Korean series, Solo Leveling.
Instead of Sung Jinwoo, the actual number one is none other than Bakugo. As fans know, Bakugo is a huge highlight in the My Hero Academia series, and he shone quite brightly during My Hero Academia's final season. Bakugo showed incredible resilience and strength again against All For One, and fans have fallen more in love with his character.
Sung Jinwoo Was Not Even In The Top 3
- Bakugo, Deku, and Akaza Are South Korea’s Most Popular Male Characters for 2025
Sung Jinwoo's losses don't stop at just Bakugo. For the Anithing Awards of 2025, Jinwoo failed to even crack the top 3. As fans know now, Bakugo was the number one. However, Jinwoo was nowhere to be seen at the second or third spot. Instead, Jinwoo was beaten again by another My Hero character, and this time, it was none other than Deku, the protagonist of My Hero Academia. Deku had incredible moments during My Hero Academia Season 8, as fans saw him go toe-to-toe against Shigaraki and save the world.
Jinwoo was also beaten by a Demon Slayer character. In third place, fans saw Akaza, the main villain of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, being highlighted. Akaza was an amazing villain, and his battle against Tanjiro and Giyu was incredibly memorable, so this position is fully justified.
I am the record of your struggles, the evidence of your resistance, and the reward of your sufferings. I am death, I am eternal rest, I am terror. - Ashborn to Sung Jinwoo, Solo Leveling Manhwa
Fans were definitely surprised to see Sung Jinwoo beaten in his own home country by three different male characters, especially after the incredible run of Solo Leveling Season 2.
Solo Leveling's losses don't stop there. Even when it came to the best anime of 2025, Solo Leveling was beaten and did not make it into the top three. That said, Solo Leveling still has a chance to shine with its second season during the Crunchyroll Awards. There, Sung Jinwoo has a chance to be the first main character to win the title of best main character twice in a row, and his anime, Solo Leveling, could be the first anime to win the title of best anime twice in a row as well.
Jinwoo Was Beaten by MHA’s Protagonists, And So Was Solo Leveling
MHA Is South Korea’s Anime of the Year For 2025
While Jinwoo was beaten by quite a few characters, Solo Leveling lost in other departments during the Anithing Awards of South Korea for 2025. The top 3 best anime series were also revealed, and again, Solo Leveling was nowhere to be seen in the Top 3.
When it comes to the anime series, the winner of the awards was My Hero Academia. So, not only was Jinwoo beaten by Bakugo and Deku, but My Hero Academia also beat Solo Leveling in Jinwoo's own home country. The number 2 and 3 anime series also managed to beat Solo Leveling. In second place was Chainsaw Man, with its Reze Arc Movie, and finally, the third place went to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle.
Sung Jinwoo Still Has a Chance to Shine During Crunchyroll’s 2026 Awards
- Sung Jinwoo Could Win The Title of Best Main Character Twice In A Row
While Jinwoo and Solo Loveling lost quite badly at the South Korean awards, they still have a chance to shine overseas. The Crunchyroll Awards for 2026 are coming soon, and fans remember well that Solo Leveling achieved some big victories last year, during the 2025 awards. There, Solo Leveling was crowned as Anime of the Year, and Sung Jinwoo won the title of best anime main character.
In that regard, fans could see Sung Jinwoo win the title of best anime main character twice in a row, and they could also see Solo Leveling become the first series ever to win the award for anime of the year consecutively.
2026's Anime Of The Year Is Set To Take Solo Leveling's Crown
Solo Leveling was big in 2025, but it could lose its Anime of the Year crown in 2026 to this hit series.
However, it is also expected that My Hero Academia will come and sweep all awards from Solo Leveling at the Crunchyroll Awards. After all, My Hero Academia Season 8 was higher rated, and it marked the end of an era.
"I Will Protect My Family Even If It Means Turning All The Hunters In The World Against Me." — Sung Jinwoo
Even My Hero Academia Season 8 aside, Solo Leveling faces tough competition from other series. The likes of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, Takopi's Original Sin, as well as Gachiakuta will probably all be nominated, and they won't be easy to beat. Furthermore, Solo Leveling will not have the advantage of a new season airing around the time of the Awards as it did in the 2025 Awards. Competition is going to be fierce in 2026, and fans should definitely tune in when these awards take place, which is not too far ahead.
Solo Leveling’s New Movie Could Allow the Series To Dominate Later Down The Line
While 2026 may not seem like it's the year of Solo Leveling, fans know very well that things could change in the second half of the year. Solo Leveling might get a new movie. This new movie, while still a huge mystery for now, could allow the series to reach new heights of fame. The Solo Leveling movie is anticipated to drop sometime around late 2026. With that, Solo Leveling could go on to win next year's awards in South Korea.
Solo Leveling has two seasons out right now, one with 12 episodes, and the other with 13, for a combined episode count of 25 episodes available to watch right now. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy while awaiting any more news concerning the third season. For fans who can’t wait for season 3 to come out, checking out the Manhwa might be a great option.