Netflix has confirmed the production of a Korean live-action series based on Solo Leveling, the globally popular intellectual property that has already captivated audiences as a web novel, webtoon, and anime series. Actor Byeon Woo-seok, a rising star in South Korean entertainment, has been cast in the lead role of Sung Jin-woo.
From Web Novel to Live-Action Screen
Solo Leveling first gained widespread attention as a Korean web novel on KakaoPage, where it quickly became, and has since remained, the platform’s No. 1 web novel and webtoon. Across its various formats, the property has garnered a staggering 14.3 billion cumulative views worldwide. Its anime adaptation recently made history at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, sweeping nine major categories, including Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character.
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The story introduces Sung Jin-woo, initially an E-rank Hunter—the lowest classification in a world where supernatural Gates connect reality to deadly alternate dimensions, releasing monstrous threats. After a near-death experience, Jin-woo gains a mysterious new ability to level up in power through combat. This transformation sees him evolve from the weakest Hunter into humanity’s unexpected champion against escalating dangers.
Byeon Woo-seok, who has rapidly achieved global stardom with standout performances in films like 20th Century Girl and the recent series Lovely Runner, will portray the central character of Sung Jin-woo. Netflix described the actor’s visual presence as straight out of a manhwa (comic), making him a fitting choice to embody Jin-woo’s dramatic evolution from underdog to powerful hero.
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The series will be co-directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, a filmmaking team known for their work on titles such as Ashfall, Like a Virgin, and Castaway on the Moon. Production is being handled by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI PICTURES. Netflix stated that a world-class global VFX team will bring the story’s high-stakes fantasy and action set-pieces to life, promising vivid characters, dynamic action sequences, and exhilarating quests.
The live-action Solo Leveling joins Netflix’s expanding portfolio of high-end Korean genre titles. The commission can be seen as representing a significant venture into the live-action fantasy-action genre, and a test of Korea’s ongoing efforts to translate its highly successful webtoon content into prestige series for global audiences.
