Solo Leveling’s Anniversary is Celebrated on Valentine’s Day

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Without a doubt, Solo Leveling is the biggest new anime sensation, and it’s been incredibly popular since it came out. This February 14th, there’s another way the series is showing its appreciation for fans.

Before the anime paused indefinitely, the story of Solo Leveling started as a light novel by South Korean author Chugong. It was first published on Valentine’s Day in 2014, and began with the captivating opening line: “Daily Quest is now available.” Unlike the anime or manhwa adaptation, the original light novel immediately introduced the mystery of the System in a brief prologue, setting the stage for what would become one of the decade’s most beloved anime series. It’s a story every anime fan can appreciate.

Crafting the Story of Sung Jinwoo Was a Labor of Love for Solo Leveling Creator Chugong

Solo Leveling initially appeared on the Munpia platform on February 14, 2014. As it became popular, D&C Media began publishing it under their Papyrus imprint on November 4, 2016. The series was a long-held dream for its creator, Chugong.

In a recent interview, Chugong revealed the inspiration behind Solo Leveling stemmed from a common childhood fantasy he shared with many of the series’ fans. He said his core idea was simply, “Wouldn’t it be cool if the main character could…” He elaborated, explaining that imagining oneself leading a personal army is a frequent childhood dream, and he believes this resonated with readers, contributing to the popularity of Solo Leveling.

It took Chugong a full year to create the foundation for Solo Leveling, including the character of Sung Jinwoo and the story’s world, before he started actually writing. He spent that time figuring out how Jinwoo would acquire and use his Shadow Soldiers, and how the battles would play out. Once he had a clear vision for all of these elements, the story finally came together.

Even after developing the whole story, one important element was still missing. The author, Chugong, explained he spent a lot of time on the title. He wanted something that would grab readers’ attention without being too childish or overly complicated. After careful thought, he settled on ‘Solo Leveling,’ believing it perfectly captured the story’s core theme of a character growing stronger independently.

Writing Solo Leveling was a very emotional experience, full of challenges and rewarding moments. Chugong particularly enjoyed writing the Red Gate Arc, but found a specific scene especially difficult: when Jinwoo talks to his mother and reveals how much he’s struggled. He admitted this scene brought up painful memories from his own life and made him cry while writing it.

12 Years Later, There’s More to Love About Solo Leveling Than Ever

Creating Solo Leveling was a passion project for its author, but its growing popularity also brought worries. Chugong, the creator, was particularly concerned about how other artists might handle his story in future adaptations, especially with the Solo Leveling manhwa. He once shared with fans that he felt a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anxiety when the webtoon Only I Level Up was first released, and those feelings continued.

Fortunately, Chugong didn’t need to worry. The story was being expertly adapted by h-goon, and the artwork was beautifully handled by the late DUBU. The manhwa became a huge success, going far beyond what most webtoons achieve. By May 2024, 5 million copies of Solo Leveling had been printed, and it even reached the top of the New York Times Bestseller list last year.

Since its beginning, Solo Leveling has become a global phenomenon. The anime adaptation was a massive hit in 2025, breaking viewership records and winning Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year award. The series has also spawned several popular video games, including Solo Leveling: Arise, and another, Solo Leveling: Karma, is coming soon. Fans can also enjoy the continuing story through the official spin-off manhwa, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which follows Sung Jinwoo’s son, Sung Suho, as detailed in the Solo Leveling: Ragnarok light novel by Daul.

The most exciting news for fans is that Sung Jinwoo’s story might not be over yet. The author of Solo Leveling, Chugong, has hinted he’s thinking about writing a sequel light novel to continue the story, and fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility.

The Solo Leveling light novel is available to read in English via the Tapas app.

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2026-02-14 21:43