Summary
- Cha Hae-In develops feelings for Jin-Woo due to his unique scent, sparking her curiosity.
- Jin-Woo’s unrivaled strength captivates Hae-In, earning her respect over time.
- Hae-In realizes her growing romantic feelings for Jin-Woo after he saves her on Jeju Island.
Solo Leveling’s Cha Hae-In is an S-rank hunter in a league of her own. She is arguably the strongest female hunter in Korea, known for her flawless swordsmanship as well as her aversion to other hunters. However, Hae-In later finds herself drawn to Sung Jin-Woo, an E-rank hunter with an air of mystery around him and his abilities. It wasn’t long before Hae-In developed feelings for Jin-Woo, the more she got curious about him.
In the early events of Solo Leveling, Cha Hae-In and Sung Jin-Woo had no connection. They personally don’t know each other, but Jin-Woo may have heard Hae-In’s name due to her popularity as Korea’s ninth S-rank hunter. The only common thing about them is their profession, which eventually brought them together. As the plot unfolds, Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo’s relationship naturally develops, leading to fans supporting their tandem.
Related
Solo Leveling: How Jin-Woo Saved Cha Hae-In on Jeju Island, Explained
Sung Jin-Woo saves Cha Hae-In’s life on Jeju Island in an incredibly surprising way; no one sees it coming.
Sung Jin-Woo’s Scent Attracts Cha Hae-In
Jin-Woo’s Scent Is Unique to Cha Hae-In
Cha Hae-In is unlike any other hunter in Solo Leveling due to her sensitivity to the smell of mana. Basically, the more mana a magical beast or a hunter possesses, the more Hae-In becomes sensitive to their smell. It’s one of the possible explanations why Hae-In appears detached and reserved for other hunters, because their smell combined with the scent of the magical beasts overwhelms her.
On the flip side, Hae-In finds Jin-Woo’s scent unique because he has no foul smell. In fact, Hae-In thinks Jin-Woo has a nice smell—a first among the hunters and magical beasts she has ever encountered in her career. His scent is an unfamiliar one, enough to trigger her curiosity about him. Adding Jin-Woo’s aura, Cha Hae-In grows invested in finding who he truly is and what his abilities are.
Sung Jin-Woo Earns Cha Hae-In’s Respect
Jin-Woo’s Unrivaled Strength Captivates Hae-In
S-rank hunters like Cha Hae-In take pride in their immense strength and extraordinary abilities. They respect strength above all else and often acknowledge those who can fight on the same level as them. So, it’s not a surprise that Sung Jin-Woo’s unmatched strength eventually captivates Hae-In, who’s completely unaware of his secret abilities. She initially believes Jin-Woo is weak due to his low rank until she witnesses one of his one-sided fights.
“It’s different when I’m with him. I feel good”—Cha Hae-In
Since then, Hae-In has begun to see Jin-Woo in a different light. She starts asking what people know about Jin-Woo and his abilities in her attempts to figure him out. In just a short amount of time, Hae-In becomes aware of Jin-Woo, like an ordinary girl who feels nervous whenever her crush is around. She also shows more human emotions, unlike her former self, who was cold and aloof most of the time.
This section contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.
Cha Hae-In Notices Her Growing Feelings for Jin-Woo
She Can’t Escape from Her Feelings Anymore
Hae-In is one of the few lucky ones to survive on Jeju Island, thanks to Sung Jin-Woo. She almost dies at the hands of the ferocious Ant King until Jin-Woo saves the day, much like a superhero who arrives at the last minute to protect his woman. His heroic feats deeply moved Hae-In, who’s starting to take notice of her romantic feelings. The first time Hae-In heard about Jin-Woo’s efforts on Jeju Island, she instantly felt happy and relieved.
“You’re the only friend I have, Hae-In”—Sung Jin-Woo to Cha Hae-In
Following the Jeju Island raid, Hae-In can only think about Jin-Woo and joining the Ahjin guild. She becomes more active in investigating Jin-Woo and his intentions but later realizes that she is incredibly interested in him. More surprisingly, Hae-In starts thinking about being with Jin-Woo and fighting by his side until her last breath. At that point, fans know that Hae-In has fallen in love with Jin-Woo, and there’s no way for her to escape her feelings.
Cha Hae-In’s Relationship with Jin-Woo
From Friends to Lovers
Over time, Hae-In becomes more interested in Jin-Woo, particularly in his personal life and the type of woman he likes. She even shows feelings of jealousy when she finds out about Jin-Ho’s female cousin joining the Ahjin guild instead of her. She began to wonder what she was lacking, not just as an S-rank hunter but also as a woman for Jin-Woo to accept an A-rank hunter like Yoo Soo-Hyun into the guild.
Despite this, Hae-In’s feelings for Jin-Woo did not go away. It began to grow deeper, even though the two of them initially treated each other as friends. She finds comfort in Jin-Woo, and vice versa, amidst a world so cruel and dangerous. Their moments at the amusement park as well as their iconic moment with Kaisel are a dream come true for fans who ship them together.
“How could I ever tell him…I want you by my side until I draw my last breath?”—Cha Hae-In
By now, many fans are already aware that Sung Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In end up together in Solo Leveling. They started out as friends who shared a mutual understanding but eventually became lovers who formed a deep emotional connection.
- Release Date
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January 7, 2024
- Directors
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Shunsuke Nakashige
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Taito Ban
Shun Mizushino (voice)
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Genta Nakamura
Kenta Morobishi (voice)
