Summary

Cha Hae-In struggles to shine in Solo Leveling due to the growing power gap with Sung Jin-Woo.
Despite being the strongest female hunter in Korea, Cha Hae-In's moments often fall short.
There's hope that Cha Hae-In will have her true main character moment in Solo Leveling season 3.

There isn’t enough time for Solo Leveling to 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 in Solo Leveling.

From her appearance, Cha Hae-In stuns the fans with her charisma, strength, and undeniable chemistry with Jin-Woo. Despite being the strongest female hunter in Korea, her presence in Solo Leveling nearly 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.

solo leveling esil radiru and sung jin woo

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By Cathlyn Melo

Cha Hae-In’s Brief but Great Moments

Has Small but Lackluster Feats

So far, the anime adaptation of Solo Leveling does 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 as Jin-Woo's obvious love interest.

Still, Solo Leveling falls 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 the Vice Master of the Hunters Guild and 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 in the 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

cha hae-in heal — Cha Hae-In is healed after her encounter with Beru. (Solo Leveling)

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-Woo to 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.

This section contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Will Cha Hae-In Ever Get Her True Moment?

Is There a Chance?

cha hae in solo leveling — Cha hae in solo leveling

Based on the succeeding events in the webtoon, there's hope that Cha Hae-In will finally get her true moment to shine in Solo Leveling season 3, once it’s confirmed. If the anime chooses to faithfully adapt the Ahjin Guild arc from 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 looming threat 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 of Solo 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.

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