What do you get when one of Korea’s most recognizable celebrities signs on to one of the most anticipated live-action adaptations of a webtoon? Can Han So-hee’s precision and emotional depth bring the beloved character of Cha Hae-in to life in the manner fans have envisioned for so long? And how does her on-screen chemistry with Byun Woo-seok shape the tone of this fantasy journey?
These are the pressing questions jumping through K-drama fandoms, and now that Han So-hee has signed on to Netflix’s I Solo Level Up alongside Byun Woo-seok. This casting news has set the stage for one of the biggest Korean drama projects in recent years.
Let’s take a look into what makes this adaptation so appealing, and why it’s already gaining global interest as a pair based upon the resolving pairing of Han So-hee and Byun Woo-seok.
Background of the Project
Before we jump into the elements of casting, it is first important to cover the background of Solo Level Up. This story began as a web novel in 2016, titled Only I Level Up. Solo Level Up is a unique combination of fantasy, action, and RPG-style progression that made it exceedingly popular quickly.
Following the novel’s success, a webtoon adaptation was made in 2018 with a conclusion in 2023. The webtoon was widely successful not only in Korea, but found success globally, totaling billions of views on different platforms.
Solo Leveling not only continued to grow in popularity, but inspired an anime adaptation as well, airing in 2024 with the second season following in 2025. The anime adaptation received positive feedback, solidifying Solo Leveling as one of the largest modern fantasy franchises.
Now, the story is set to be reimagined with a live action adaptation by Netflix, sparking excitement and curiosity from the fans.
Han So-hee’s Role in the Drama
Han So-hee will portray Cha Hae-in, South Korea’s only female S-class hunter. Cha Hae-in is known for her sword skills and unshakably calm but fierce character, and she was the favorite character in the original story.
This is a significant moment for Han So-hee. The role is highly physical, full of emotional nuance, and central to the plot— a combination that suits Han So-hee exceptionally well. The fans have already seen her show solid action in My Name and in Gyeongseong Creature, and dramas like The World of the Married have shown her emotional range.
That’s why many believe Cha Hae-in could become one of her most defining roles yet.
Byun Woo-seok as Sung Jin-woo
Jin-woo. Sung Jin-woo starts as the E-rank hunter who is the weakest in the world. After being on the brink of death, he received the power to level up and became the strongest protector of mankind.
Byun Woo-seok’s popularity grew immensely after his work in Lovely Runner, where audiences loved his charms and depths as an actor. Now, in Solo Leveling, the expectations are much higher and this role could potentially have much greater heights for his career.
Also, fans were excited to see what kind of chemistry he and Han So-hee will have in the series. A strong male lead with a powerful female hunter will positively add to the experience of watching the series.
Creative Team and Production
Solo Leveling has a strong team behind the scenes. The series will be co-directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, the pair best known for working together on the adventure-disaster-action film Ashfall.
On the production side, Kakao Entertainment and SANAI Pictures are on board, while Netflix is previewing the series as a higher-budget fantasy K-drama for globally-minded viewers, but it’s clear with this scale of production the live-action is going to be positioned as one of Korea’s most ambitious international releases.
Why Fans Are Excited
The anticipation for a live action adaptation of Solo Leveling grows with every new casting update, a sentiment shared by fans of the series worldwide.
The adaptation of the Solo Leveling anime into a series was a huge success, making it one of the top ranked shows on Crunchyroll, which only raises the stakes for Netflix. The casting of Han So-hee has caused an even greater stir ‘My Name’ before, her roles in ‘My Name’ and ‘Gyeongseong Creature’ showcase her action abilities making her a perfect fit for Cha Hae-in.
So too, Byun Woo-seok’s growing fame from ‘Lovely Runner’ ensures that the show will be watched by younger audiences. Most importantly, Cha Hae-in is not only a pivotal character from the story, rather, she is an integral part of the protagonist, Sung Jin-woo’s, character arc. This aspect alone makes her casting even more appealing for fans of the webtoon adaptation.
Current Status
At this point in time, Korean media has reported that Han So-hee has joined the cast, but Netflix has not made an official announcement about the casting. Filming should be starting soon since production is already underway from Kakao Entertainment and SANAI Pictures.
If everything stays on track, fans can probably reasonably expect the drama to be released in late 2025 or very early 2026. In the meantime, the casting excitement is enough to keep the excitement alive.
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Conclusion
The casting of Han So-hee as Cha Hae-in is an exciting new direction in her career, and Byun Woo-seok stepping into the shoes of Sung Jin-woo is gearing up to showcase his strengths as a lead. These two emerging young stars offer a brilliant combination of star power, talent and undeniable screen presence to one of Korea’s most admired tales.
Fans will obviously want to see how closely Netflix’s live-action edition sticks to the original webtoon and if the excitement captured in the original series can have the same tone and global appeal that made Solo Leveling a phenomenon.
With these casting decisions, Netflix’s I Solo Level Up will be poised to become another major K-drama for the global audience.
