8 Deaths in Solo Leveling That No One Saw Coming

This article contains major spoilers from the Solo Leveling anime and manhwa.

Deaths often happen in Solo Leveling, and they come in the most unexpected ways, which many fans don’t see coming. While Sung Jin-Woo is lucky to survive the brutal encounter with the giant statues in the Cartenon Temple, other Solo Leveling characters, especially those in the hunter industry, have no other choice but to accept their untimely demise in the afterlife.

No one is completely safe in Solo Leveling, and the same applies to Sung Jin-Woo. Low-level hunters are closer to death, but even the most powerful characters could still die in the blink of an eye. That said, let’s take a closer look at the most shocking deaths in Solo Leveling that no one saw coming.

Goo Jun-Tae

Jin-Woo’s First Human Kill

Anime Appearance: Episode 5

Goo Jun-Tae is one of the Lizards who decides to mess around with Sung Jin-Woo and Yoo Jin-Ho during a dungeon operation in the first few episodes of Solo Leveling. There’s nothing special about him, and yet he has an awful personality. He is a D-rank hunter collaborating with Hwang Dong-Suk, along with 6 other low-level hunters, on his suspicious dungeon raids.

Unfortunately, Goo Jun-Tae dies at the hands of Sung Jin-Woo, a consequence of his arrogance and stupidity. Jin-Woo casually uses his dagger to slash through his neck, as if it’s an ordinary thing to do. Nothing good comes out of underestimating someone like Jin-Woo, and his swift death serves as a reminder of what happens when arrogance blinds judgment.

Hwang Dong-Suk

Executed by Jin-Woo

Hwang Dongsoo and his brother, Dongsuk - Solo Leveling

Anime Appearance: Episode 5

Hwang Dong-Suk’s biggest mistake in life is recruiting Jin-Woo to come along on one of his dungeon raids. Instead of treating Jin-Woo like an ally, he goes out of his way to ambush him and Yoo Jin-Ho. He dies fighting Jin-Woo, without giving him any serious injuries. Just like Goo Jun-Tae, his foolishness and arrogance sealed his fate.

Hwang Dong-Suk is the older brother of S-rank hunter Hwang Dong-Soo. He is a C-rank hunter, which means his brother is leagues above him in strength. Worse, he is a tank-type hunter, and he depends on his allies to defeat magical beasts. This huge difference drives him insane, so much so that he wants to prove himself better than his brother in his own extreme ways.

Kim Chul

Impaled by Igris

Anime Appearance: Episode 13

Before dying, Kim Chul was the White Tiger Guild’s next big thing. He is an A-rank hunter with decent combat abilities, and he also enjoys the attention of the guild’s master, Baek Yoon-Ho. During the Red Gate Arc, he volunteers to defeat the dungeon boss, despite knowing the danger that comes with it. However, he is a discriminating leader, refusing to allow weak hunters to support him.

Things obviously did not go well in Kim Chul’s favor. His attempt to kill the dungeon boss and Sung Jin-Woo himself failed miserably. Worse, he loses his life to Jin-Woo’s elite shadow soldier, Igris. In a matter of seconds, Jin-Woo raises his shadow like a dead magical beast, giving him a life of servitude.

Kang Tae Shik

Defeated by Jin-Woo

Anime Appearance: Episode 3

Kang Tae-Shik is one of the most ruthless hunters in Solo Leveling. He is a B-rank hunter working under the Korean Hunters Association, not because of the respect and authority that come with his duty, but for a twisted reason: he likes killing fellow hunters, especially those criminals called rehabilitators. He is brilliant on the battlefield, making him a difficult opponent to defeat.

However, Kang Tae-Shik is nowhere near Jin-Woo’s strength. While Jin-Woo continues to grow stronger while fighting, Kang Tae-Shik is stuck at his power level. If only he had undergone a second awakening, he could have been a more powerful hunter. His fight with Jin-Woo is one of the best in Solo Leveling, as it happens before the shadow soldiers enter the picture.

Akari Shimizu

Decapitated by Ant King

Anime Appearance: Episode 21

To this day, Solo Leveling fans feel sorry for Akari Shimizu’s death. She dies in the most unexpected way, with the Ant King decapitating her head in just the blink of an eye. One moment she is talking to her fellow hunter, and then the next, her headless body collapses to the ground. She never even completed her last words in the series.

Despite Akari Shimizu’s untimely demise, she is one of the Japanese S-rank hunters on a mission to reclaim ant-infested Jeju Island. As an S-rank hunter of the healer class, she probably has above-average healing magic. Sadly, she has no feats in the series to further explain her abilities.

Goto Ryuji

Beheaded by Ant King

Anime Appearance: Episode 20

Goto Ryuji is one of the most hated characters in Solo Leveling, not only because of his awful personality but also for his disappointing performance against the Ant King in the Jeju Island Arc.

Said to be the strongest in Japan, he dies a meaningless yet satisfying death, unable to put up even the slightest resistance. His overconfidence and arrogance led him to his tragic end. Still, the fact that he is the strongest hunter in Japan speaks volumes about his strength. Too bad, the Ant King is not in the mood to deal with the fake king of the humans.

Min Byung-Gu

Devoured by Ant King

Anime Appearance: Episode 1

Min Byung-Gu is the real MVP of the Jeju Island Arc. He is a talented S-rank healer, capable of supporting his allies in the most crucial situations. Without him, the team of Korean S-rank hunters fighting against the Ant King would have died before Jin-Woo entered the Ant Queen’s lair.

Unfortunately, Min Byung-Gu suffers a tragic end at the hands of the Ant King. His head was devoured, and his powers were absorbed. His death broke the hearts of many fans rooting for him to survive. Even so, death won’t stop Min Byung-Gu from fulfilling his duty to his teammates. He healed Cha Hae-In’s injuries and even asked him to deliver a message to Jin-Woo. While Jin-Woo temporarily raises his shadow, he eventually releases him to honor and respect him.

Go Gun-Hee

Killed by Frost Monarch Sillad

chairman go meeting — Chairman Go Gunhee appears confident while discussing the Jeju Island raid. (Solo Leveling)

Anime Appearance: Episode 1

Go Gun-Hee is an absolute force of nature, especially when he is in his prime. His moniker, S-Rank Among the S-Ranks, just proves he is a highly capable hunter with destructive abilities that placed him above nearly every hunter of his time. On top of that, he is one of the vessels of the Rulers, granting him immense strength beyond human limits.

If only Go Gun-Hee were younger, he would have been fighting on the frontlines along with Sung Jin-Woo. His old age and declining health significantly affected his combat abilities, making him weaker. The Frost Monarch takes advantage of this vulnerability, attacking Go Gun-Hee in the very office of the Korean Hunters Association. Go Gun-Hee ends up dying, unable to withstand the overwhelming power of Sillad.