He was supposed to be dead. Instead, he walked out of a Gate and broke an S-Rank Hunter in half.
That’s the moment Solo Leveling fans realized: Sung Il-Hwan—Jinwoo’s father—is on another level. Not just alive. Unrealistically strong. Strong enough to bully Hwang Dongsoo. Strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Monarchs. Strong enough that the Rulers made him a Vessel.
So let’s answer it clearly:
Why is Jinwoo’s father so strong?
Trapped in a Gate. Rebuilt by Gods.
Ten years ago, Sung Il-Hwan vanished in a dungeon. Everyone thought he died. What really happened?
He got stuck in a high-level Gate—a place even S-Rank Hunters can’t survive for long. No food. No escape. Just a slow death…
Until the Rulers found him.
Jinwoo’s dad didn’t just survive. He ascended.
These god-tier beings chose Il-Hwan to become a Rulers’ Vessel—a human fused with divine power. That was the upgrade that made Sung Jinwoo’s father so strong.
S-Rank? Il-Hwan Was Beyond It
Let’s be clear: Sung Il-Hwan wasn’t some random C-rank dad with plot armor. Before the Rulers even got involved, he had S-Rank Hunter-level potential. Some sources pegged him as A-Rank back in the day, but the truth is:
He just predated the ranking system. His strength was uncategorized.
But the Ruler’s intervention? That’s what launched him into Solo Leveling overpowered dad mode.
He Was Built to Kill the Shadow Monarch
This is the part casual readers miss: Il-Hwan was made for a specific reason—
To assassinate the Shadow Monarch’s successor.
Yeah. That’s right.
Jinwoo’s dad was handpicked to kill his own son. The Rulers feared Ashborn’s next vessel (aka Jinwoo), so they prepped Il-Hwan as a counter.
That’s why Jinwoo’s father is so strong in Solo Leveling:
- He wasn’t just empowered.
- He was custom-built to take out a future Monarch.
That mission made him stronger than Thomas Andre, and maybe even deadlier than some of the Monarchs themselves—for a short time.
Sung Il Hwan’s Abilities? Ridiculous.
As a Rulers’ Vessel, Il-Hwan unlocked an arsenal of absurd powers:
- Spiritual Body Manifestation (basically god-mode)
- Ruler’s Authority (telekinesis that crushes buildings)
- Superhuman strength, speed, and stealth
- He sent the Beast Monarch flying and pierced through its jaw with his bare hands
This isn’t some “dad buff” nonsense. It’s lore-backed, fully justified, cosmic-tier strength.
Jinwoo’s father vs two Monarchs. Yeah. He tanked it.
But It Came at a Cost
Here’s the catch:
Unlike Jinwoo—who had the Shadow Monarch’s power built into his system—Il-Hwan was still human.
Every time he tapped into that divine energy, his body paid the price.
He literally burned himself alive protecting Jinwoo from two Monarchs. His strength was monstrous… but fatal.
That’s why Jinwoo’s dad was strong—but never invincible.
Power Level? Here’s the Breakdown
| Tier | Characters | Sung Il-Hwan’s Standing |
|---|---|---|
| God Tier | Absolute Being | Source of Rulers/Monarchs (not comparable) |
| Monarch Tier | Ashborn, Antares, Jinwoo (Post-Awakening) | Il-Hwan could temporarily fight them |
| Peak Vessel Tier | Sung Il-Hwan | Strongest human Vessel ever made |
| National Level Hunter | Thomas Andre, Go Gunhee | Stronger than these due to tailored power |
| S-Rank Hunter | Hwang Dongsoo, Cha Hae-In | Far above this level |
Why Is Jinwoo’s Father So Strong? Final Word
Let’s look at it logically:
Why is Sung Il-Hwan so powerful?
Because he was a chosen Rulers’ Vessel, empowered to rival Monarchs.Is Jinwoo’s father stronger than Thomas Andre?
Yes. Il-Hwan had more Ruler energy, a deadlier mission, and better feats.What made Jinwoo’s dad so strong in Solo Leveling?
He had S-Rank potential, a Rulers upgrade, and a mission that required power above National Level Hunters.Was Sung Il-Hwan stronger than Monarchs?
Temporarily, yes. He fought two of them. But it cost him everything.Could Jinwoo’s dad beat him?
Not after Jinwoo inherited Ashborn’s full power. That’s when the son surpassed the father.
🧠 FAQ: Why Is Jinwoo’s Father So Strong in Solo Leveling?
Who is Sung Il-Hwan in Solo Leveling?
Sung Il-Hwan is the father of protagonist Sung Jinwoo. He disappeared ten years before the main story and later returned from a Gate as an extremely powerful Hunter. His reappearance marks one of the most shocking twists in the series.
Why is Jinwoo’s dad so strong?
Because he became a Rulers’ Vessel—a human chosen to wield divine power. Il-Hwan was empowered to hunt the Shadow Monarch’s successor, making him stronger than National Level Hunters like Thomas Andre.
Was Jinwoo’s father stronger than Thomas Andre?
Yes. Il-Hwan was granted more of the Rulers’ power than Andre and had a mission requiring Monarch-level strength. His performance in battles, especially against two Monarchs at once, confirms his superior power level.
Is Sung Il-Hwan stronger than a Monarch?
At his peak, Il-Hwan could temporarily fight Monarchs like the Beast Monarch and Frost Monarch. However, he couldn’t sustain that level without destroying his body. He wasn’t stronger in the long term, but he could match them briefly.
How did Jinwoo’s father survive in the dungeon for 10 years?
He was saved and empowered by the Rulers while on the verge of death. Their intervention turned him into a Vessel, granting him power and a mission to eliminate the next Shadow Monarch—who turned out to be his own son.
Was Jinwoo ever weaker than his father?
Yes. Before inheriting Ashborn’s full power, Jinwoo was significantly weaker than Il-Hwan. After Jinwoo awakened as the complete Shadow Monarch, he surpassed his father in every measurable way.
What powers did Sung Il-Hwan have?
As a Rulers’ Vessel, he had superhuman strength, speed, invisibility, telekinesis (Ruler’s Authority), and Spiritual Body Manifestation, allowing him to channel divine energy for short bursts of Monarch-level combat.