The Jeju Island Raid, which comes under Jeju Island Arc, is the 13th story arc in the Solo Leveling manhwa and anime series, written by Chugong and illustrated by Jang Sung-rak. This arc is a pivotal moment in the series, which shows intense action, significant character development, and a major turning point for the protagonist, Sung Jinwoo.
It centers around the fourth attempt to reclaim Jeju Island from a horde of mutant ant monsters that emerged from an S-Rank Gate, where both the Korean and Japanese S-Rank Hunters participated on a wide level.
Overview :
Jeju Island, once a vibrant tourist destination located in the Pacific Ocean between South Korea and Japan, became a battleground four years prior to the main storyline when an S-Rank Gate spawned, unleashing a colony of ferocious ant-like magical beasts led by the Ant Queen.
Three previous attempts by the Korean Hunters Association to clear the gate failed, resulting in significant losses, including the death of S-Rank Hunter Eunseok during the third raid. After these failures, the Korean government abandoned the island, hoping the ants would starve and die. However, the ants evolved, developing wings that allowed them to attack nearby islands, posing an international threat.
The fourth raid, a joint operation between Korean and Japanese S-Rank Hunters, was launched to eliminate the Ant Queen and prevent further evolution of the ant colony. Sung Jinwoo, Korea’s newest S-Rank Hunter, initially opted out to care for his mother, who was recently cured of Eternal Slumber using the Holy Water of Life.
However, the emergence of the Ant King, a monstrously powerful offspring of the Ant Queen, forced Jinwoo to intervene, which ultimately turns the tide of a near-disastrous raid and cementing his reputation as a heroic figure.
Detailed Background :
The S-Rank Gate and Previous Raids
Four years before the events of Solo Leveling, an S-Rank Gate appeared on Jeju Island, which was connected to a dungeon inhabited by mutant ant monsters. The Korean Hunters Association launched an initial raid to clear the gate, but ended in failure, unable to prevent a dungeon break.
The ants from the dungeon overran the island, killing thousands of civilians and rendering it uninhabitable. Two subsequent raids over the next two years also failed, with the third raid resulting in the death of Eunseok, a prized S-Rank Hunter specializing in lightning magic. Traumatized by these losses, the Korean government ceased efforts to reclaim the island, isolating it in hopes the ants would die out from starving.
However, the ants adapted, evolving wings that enabled them to fly to neighboring islands, attacking human populations. This development prompted the Korean and Japanese governments to collaborate on a fourth raid, with Japan’s Draw Sword Guild, led by Goto Ryuji, offering ten S-Rank Hunters to assist six Korean S-Rank Hunters in a strategic mission to eliminate the Ant Queen.
Sung Jinwoo’s Context
At the start of the arc, Sung Jinwoo had just returned from the Demon Castle, where he defeated Baran’s clone to obtain the Holy Water of Life, curing his mother of Eternal Slumber. Jinwoo declined to join the raid to spend more time with his family, believing the combined strength of the Korean and Japanese S-Rank Hunters was sufficient. His decision was also influenced by his desire to avoid drawing attention to his unique abilities as the Shadow Monarch, a power granted by the System.
The 4th Attempt Jeju Island Raid Party
The raid party consisted of 16 S-Rank Hunters: six from Korea and ten from Japan. The plan, proposed by Goto Ryuji, was to have the Japanese Hunters act as bait to draw out the ants, while the Korean Hunters infiltrated the nest to kill the Ant Queen. The raid was supported by 5,000 additional combatants, including naval forces and lower-ranked hunters, stationed around the island.
Strategic Plan
Goto’s research revealed that the ants had a one-year lifespan, meaning the colony would collapse if the Ant Queen was killed. Historical data showed that all ants, except the Queen’s guards, left the nest during raids. The plan was for the Japanese Hunters to release powerful mana waves to attract the ants, allowing the Korean Hunters to sneak into the nest and eliminate the Queen. Satellite signals were jammed to isolate the Queen, and the Japanese Hunters were confident in their ability to handle the ant drones.
Hunters Participated in Jeju Island Raid :
Korean Hunters
- ‣ Cha Hae-In – Vice-guild master of the Hunters Guild, specializing in melee combat. Known for her ruthless efficiency and sensitive sense of smell, which she used to detect threats.
- ‣ Choi Jong-In – Guild master of the Hunters Guild, an expert in fire magic, effective in long-range combat against hordes of enemies.
- ‣ Baek Yoonho – Guild master of the White Tiger Guild, specializing in transformation magic. A survivor of the third raid, he carried survivor’s guilt from Eunseok’s death.
- ‣ Lim Tae-Gyu – Leader of the Fiend Guild, skilled in ranged combat.
- ‣ Ma Dongwook – Leader of the Fame Guild, a melee fighter.
- ‣ Min Byung-Gyu – A retired S-Rank healer who returned for the raid to redeem himself and avenge fallen comrades. The only Korean S-Rank healer at the time.
Japanese Hunters
- ‣ Goto Ryuji – Guild master of the Draw Sword Guild and Japan’s strongest hunter. Arrogant and manipulative, he led the Japanese contingent with ulterior motives.
- ‣ Reiji Sugimoto – Vice-guild master of the Draw Sword Guild, later succeeding Goto.
- ‣ Kenzo Tanaka – A melee combat specialist, known for his ruthless fighting style.
- ‣ Atsushi Kumamoto – A fighter-class hunter who could enter a berserker state, enhancing his strength when injured.
- ‣ Tawata Kanae – A cool-headed hunter who avoided direct confrontation with the Ant King.
- ‣ Akari Shimizu – An S-Rank healer, relatively inexperienced but highly skilled.
- ‣ Kei – A mage-type hunter with ice magic, partnered with Ippei Izawa. Wore a gas mask due to a sensitive sense of smell.
- ‣ Ippei Izawa – A mage-type hunter, partnered with Kei.
- ‣ Mari Ishida – A skilled hunter, part of the Japanese contingent.
- ‣ Minoru Hoshino – A powerful hunter who defeated Lim Tae-Gyu in a sparring session.
Key Events :
Pre-Raid Preparations
Before the raid, Korean and Japanese Hunters engaged in a joint sparring session to assess each other’s abilities. Tensions rose when Goto challenged Jinwoo, impressed by his skills but unaware of his true power.
The sparring escalated dangerously, requiring intervention of other S-rank Hunters to prevent injuries. Jinwoo later announced his decision not to join the raid to spend more time with his family which was a significant blow to the mission, as both Korean and Japanese Hunters recognized his unmatched strength.
The Raid Begins
The raid commenced with the Japanese Hunters landing on Jeju’s northern shores, releasing mana waves to draw out the ants. The Korean Hunters, led by Choi Jong-In, landed smoothly and advanced toward the Ant Queen’s nest. Initially, the plan worked – the Japanese Hunters easily dispatched the ant drones, and the Korean Hunters reached the nest, where Cha Hae-In killed the Ant Queen.
The Ant King’s Emergence
The situation deteriorated quickly when the Ant King, the Ant Queen’s most powerful offspring, revealed himself as the true dungeon boss. Far stronger than anticipated, the Ant King launched a surprise attack, killing Goto Ryuji in one hit and decimating the Japanese contingent. He also killed Kei, Ippei Izawa, Akari Shimizu, Mari Ishida, and Minoru Hoshino, and later Min Byung-Gyu, who was protecting the injured Korean Hunters.
Sung Jinwoo’s Intervention
Jinwoo, watching the raid’s broadcast, noticed the crisis through signals from his shadow soldiers, though their limited communication delayed his response. Using his Shadow Exchange ability, he teleported to the Ant Queen’s chamber, confronting the Ant King.
In a grueling battle, Jinwoo defeated the Ant King, showcasing his Shadow Monarch powers and revived his fellow injured teammates. He then used Shadow Extraction to turn the Ant King into Beru, one of his most powerful shadow soldiers with healing abilities surpassing S-Rank hunters.
Aftermath
With the Ant King and Queen dead, the remaining ants were in disarray. Jinwoo stayed behind to eliminate the colony, while the surviving hunters evacuated. The Korean Hunters Association sent the Knights Guild to collect essence stones and confirm the ants’ eradication. The raid’s success, attributed to Jinwoo, made him a national hero in Korea, though some criticized him for not joining sooner, blaming him for Min Byung-Gyu’s death.
Outcome :
Impact on Korea
- ‣ Sung Jinwoo’s Rise – The raid propelled Jinwoo to international fame, establishing him as a potential National Level Hunter. His actions earned him widespread respect, though he faced criticism for his delayed involvement.
- ‣ Min Byung-Gyu’s Death – The loss of Korea’s only S-Rank healer was mourned in a national funeral in Seoul, highlighting the raid’s cost.
- ‣ Island Reclamation – Though not confirmed, it is presumed Jeju Island was re-inhabited after the ant colony’s destruction.
Impact on Japan
- ‣ Draw Sword Guild’s Collapse – The deaths of seven S-Rank Hunters, including Goto Ryuji, led to the guild’s downfall and a power struggle among Japan’s remaining guilds.
- ‣ National Weakness – The loss of military power left Japan vulnerable, particularly when an S-Rank Gate later spawned in Tokyo.
Broader Implications
- ‣ Monarchs’ Attention – Jinwoo’s use of Ashborn’s power during the battle attracted the notice of Monarchs Rakan and Sillad, who investigated Jeju Island but found no trace of him. This foreshadowed the larger conflict with the Monarchs.
- ‣ Political Intrigue – The raid revealed Goto’s ulterior motive to weaken Korea’s S-Rank Hunters, exposing tensions between the two nations’ hunter associations.
Adaptations :
In the Solo Leveling anime, produced by A-1 Pictures, the Jeju Island Arc is covered in Season 2, with the raid beginning in Episode 10, titled “We Need a Hero.” The anime enhances the arc with stunning animation, particularly in Jinwoo’s fight against the Ant King, and includes original scenes to build anticipation, such as Choi Jong-In’s conversations about past raids. In the Japanese version, Jeju Island is renamed Kanan Island.
Trivia :
- ‣ The Jeju Island Arc draws parallels to the Chimera Ant Arc in Hunter x Hunter, with both featuring powerful ant-like enemies threatening humanity.
- ‣ The arc’s plot hole regarding Jinwoo’s delayed involvement was addressed by Chugong, who explained it was due to the limited communication abilities of Jinwoo’s shadow soldiers at the time.
- ‣ Beru, the Ant King’s shadow, becomes one of Jinwoo’s most iconic allies, known for his loyalty and healing abilities.
