Byeon Woo-seok to Star in Netflix’s Solo Leveling Live-Action

Netflix has at last confirmed what fans globally have been theorizing for so long: the streaming giant is transforming Solo Leveling into a live-action Korean drama, and Byeon Woo-seok will be stepping into the black boots of Sung Jin-woo.

A global pop culture phenomenon that began as a web novel on KakaoPage, Solo Leveling went on to become a record-breaking webtoon, an award-winning anime, and a massively successful video game. Now, the hit IP is being made into a live-action drama by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI PICTURES, with Netflix leading the global release.

Yet the unveiling has left fans more than a bit winded. It’s stirred up a storm of applause, worry, and sheer internet meltdown.

From E-Rank Hunter to Global Hero: The Narrative That Established a Legacy

At the forefront of Solo Leveling is Sung Jin-woo, the humble E-rank Hunter, the lowest ranking in a world where monster slaying is a daily job. Having managed to survive a close-call dungeon raid, Jin-woo is inexplicably gifted with the power to “level up” like a game character. He quickly turns into one of the best defenders of mankind and rises through the ranks in a world that is dark, dangerous, with lethal dungeons, perilous monsters, and political maneuverings.

The series has been unstoppable since it was first released. It boasts 14.3 billion total views worldwide and remains KakaoPage’s No. 1 web novel and webtoon. The anime adaptation, which debuted earlier this year, swept nine categories at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character, making history in anime as the first Korean work to achieve all of this.

Enter Byeon Woo-seok: A “Manhwa Man” in the Flesh

Stepping into the titanic shoes of Sung Jin-woo is Byeon Woo-seok, rising heartthrob from Lovely Runner and 20th Century Girl. With his burgeoning popularity and jaw-dropping visuals, he’s been tagged as a “만찢남,” essentially, a guy who looks like he leaped off the pages of a manhwa.

Woo-seok’s rise hasn’t been overnight. The actor had to slog for nearly a decade before he got his first major leading role, and his journey to fame has made fans fiercely protective of his career. Now, as he transitions into what is possibly the most criticized role of his life, expectations are sky-high.

“Guys Byeon Wooseok, who struggled almost a decade to get his first lead role and be well received as Sunjae, is going international and worldwide as Sung Jinwoo as we speak right now,” one emotional fan tweeted. “Our superstar is going to be international I REPEAT 😭”

But the casting hasn’t been met with universal applause.

Fan Reactions: A Firestorm on Social Media

As with any adaptation of a beloved property, reactions are volatile. The online fandom has erupted in passionate and polarized debate.

“I love Byeon Wooseok but can you guys pls free Sung Jinwoo and let him live in anime universe only??????Like his character is so damn perfect and no one can be him I’m begging 😭😭😭😭”

“U see this is why u can never take Twitter acting critics seriously,” another user posted. “Since when did being cringe mean good acting… Byeon Wooseok is not the actor you think he is, and CEW is more successful, has more awards… lmao.”

Still, some are cautiously optimistic.

“Byeon Wooseok as Sung Jinwoo is gonna eat, but I hope they stick true to the source material,” one fan tweeted.

Big Budget, Bigger Expectations: The Creative Team Behind the Scenes

The series is being helmed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, directors known for ambitious films like Ashfall, Cold Eyes, Castaway on the Moon, and My Dictator. Netflix has confirmed that a world-class global VFX team will be responsible for bringing to life the dark fantasy aesthetic, intense dungeon battles, and iconic monster designs that defined the webtoon and anime.

Early production notes promise “vivid characters, dynamic action sequences, and exhilarating quests,” all of which are needed if the adaptation is to hold up to comparisons fans will inevitably make to the anime’s crisp animation and breakneck storytelling.

This live-action adaptation is being touted as a game-changer, one that could either elevate the status of Korean fantasy dramas on the global stage or crumble under the pressure of impossible expectations.

Can Netflix Level Up This Franchise or Will It Fall Into the Dungeon?

The Solo Leveling live-action adaptation carries with it the dreams of an international fandom and the nightmares of past anime-to-live-action disasters. With Byeon Woo-seok at the helm and a formidable production team on deck, the show could very well mark a new golden age for Korean fantasy adaptations.

Netflix has yet to confirm the official release date, but one thing is sure: Solo Leveling is coming, and it’s already one of the most talked-about series of 2025.

Stay tuned. The dungeon is opening.