Byeon Woo Seok cast as Jin Woo in Netflix’s Solo Leveling live-action; fans say he’s the ‘perfect manhwa lead’

Netflix just dropped a bombshell for K-drama and anime fans alike.SoloLeveling, the mega-popular Korean web novel turned webtoon and anime, is getting a live-action adaptation. And guess who’s leading the charge? Byeon Woo Seok, the current poster boy of romantic K-dramas known for his role in Lovely Runner, is officially taking on the role of Sung Jin Woo. If you’ve seen the fan edits, you already know this casting has been a long time coming.


Byeon Woo Seok had a massive 2024, thanks to his breakout role in Lovely Runner, where he had viewers falling for a fictional idol stuck in a tragic time loop. Even though it's been over a year since the drama concluded, his popularity has remained unfazed, and a recent PRIZM Popularity award at Baeksang testifies to the same. Now, he’s swapping the sweet romance for dark fantasy, stepping into a role fans have been manifesting for years. The internet’s been calling him “manhwa material” since his debut, and with his sharp visuals, we can totally see why.


In the live-action adaptation, Byeon will play Sung Jin Woo, a low-ranked hunter barely surviving in a world overrun by monsters spilling out of mysterious “Gates.” After a mission nearly kills him, something strange happens—he wakes up with the power to level up in real-time, getting stronger with each fight.


Fans of the actor, who were already looking forward to his next project, Wife of a 20th Century Prince, didn’t see this coming, even with rumours of a Netflix live-action adaptation quietly circulating online.

One fan wrote, "Solo Leveling literally won Anime of the Year 2025, so Netflix has big work cut out for them for this adaptation, but despite all the risk involved, I'm just so excited for Wooseok & what he'll bring to Jinwoo."


Another mentioned, "#ByeonWooseokhas dreamed of fighting off aliens before; now he's going to be fighting with monsters."



If you’re not already familiar, Solo Levelling isn’t just some niche fantasy title. It’s a juggernaut. The original web novel blew up on KakaoPage and later spawned a webtoon and an anime, all of which have built a massive global fanbase. The series has clocked over 14.3 billion views (yes, billion) and recently cleaned up at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, snagging nine wins, including Anime of the Year.


Netflix’s version will be handled by directors Lee Hae Jun and Kim Byung Seo, the team behindAshfallandCastaway on the Moon. The production is backed by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI Pictures, and they’re pulling in a top-tier global VFX team to handle the fantasy elements, which means the Gate monsters, dungeon bosses, and all of Jin Woo’s insane upgrades are getting the high-budget treatment.

Notably, Byeon Woo Seok was just a background extra in Lee Hae Jun and Kim Byung Seo’s 2019 film Ashfall, and is now stepping into the spotlight as the lead in their upcoming Netflix project. Talk about a full-circle moment!


Byeon Woo Seok has been rising fast, but Solo Leveling might be the project that fully launches him onto the global stage. While he’s mostly been known for softer, romantic roles (Lovely Runner, 20th Century Girl, Moonshine, Record of Youth), this will be his first real dive into dark action fantasy.

There’s no release date yet, but the hype is already building. Between the cult following of SoloLeveling, the trust fans have in Byeon Woo Seok, and Netflix’s push to dominate Korean genre content, this series has all the ingredients to be a major hit.

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