Solo Leveling introduced us to the ultra-weak protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, who served as an E-Rank hunter. However, during a raid at the Double Dungeon, the boy got chosen by the System, and after that, he underwent a heavy transformation. To be precise, the system not only blessed him with an unrecognizable appearance but also provided him with immense power. However, with the second season underway, many fans are wondering if Sung Jinwoo is more powerful than his father, Sung Il-Hwan.
Jinwoo, who previously couldn’t return from a low-rank dungeon without getting hurt, now seems to be getting closer to or even surpassing the level of S-Rank hunters in Solo Leveling. Before him, Sung Il-Hwan was considered the strongest hunter to have ever existed, and as the story progresses, we will see how powerful he actually is. But, who is stronger of the two? Well, let’s find out.
Spoiler Warning: This post includes spoilers for the Solo Leveling manhwa and its characters, so proceed with caution.
Jinwoo vs Sung Il-Hwan: Who Is Stronger?
By the end of Solo Leveling, Jinwoo becomes the most powerful being on the entire planet, so it’s obvious that he surpassed the power level of his father, Sung Il Hwan. The System initially chose Jinwoo as Ashborn’s vessel, so he already received immense powers that allowed him to build a reputation among the other hunters.
But when he dies in the fight against Frost and Beast Monarch, Ashborn chooses him as a successor and gives him a second chance to live. Hence, Jinwoo ended up becoming someone with god-like powers that gave him the ability to beat the crap out of the powerful Monarchs.
So, how could he not beat the might of Sung Il-Hwan? The manhwa didn’t allow us to witness a duel between Sung Il-Hwan and Jinwoo.
When Sung Il-Hwan was believed to be dead after getting trapped in a dungeon raid, the Rulers kept him alive so that he could return to Earth and kill the host of the Shadow Monarch. However, after the Rulers realize that Sung Jinwoo is fighting against the Monarchs, they instruct Sung Il-Hwan to protect his son instead.
How Powerful Is Sung Il-Hwan in Solo Leveling?
Sung Il-Hwan was chosen by the Rulers to be their human host, so we can’t doubt his potential. In the Solo Leveling universe, he is considered to be the second most powerful hunter, the first being his son, Jinwoo.
Before becoming the vessel of a Ruler, Sung Il-Hwan worked as a firefighter. However, he left his job and assumed the responsibilities of a hunter after the gates started spawning, and he had his awakening. The lack of a ranking system at that time didn’t allow Hwan to discover his rank, but the way he handled the Magic Beasts was enough to assume that he was indeed an S-Rank hunter.
Besides that, when he returns, and Hwang Dongsoo interrogates him in the main storyline, Hwang defeats the S-Rank hunter without breaking a sweat. Besides that, when Rakan was about to deliver a final blow on Jinwoo, the moment his black heart started beating again, it was Sung Il-Hwan who unleashed a heavy blow on him and sent him flying through several buildings. Hence, Hwan helped his son to become the Shadow Monarch by holding the duel for some time.
