Byeon Woo Seok faces backlash over lead role in Netflix’s Solo Leveling live-action
Actor Byeon Woo Seok is under fire after being cast as Sung Jin Woo in Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of the hit Korean web novel Solo Leveling.
Netflix confirmed the project on July 10, KST, revealing Byeon as the lead. Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin Woo, a weak hunter who gains powers to fight monsters threatening humanity. The story has already been hugely successful as a web novel and anime, winning “Anime of the Year” at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards.
Despite fan excitement for Byeon’s challenging role, netizens are skeptical. Many feel he doesn’t fit the character’s image, while others doubt a live-action version can capture the story’s essence.
Fans on Theqoo slammed the casting and the adaptation plan:
“Not even Song Kang Ho could save this — can we please stop with these live-action adaptations already?”
— netizen on Theqoo“Since this is a one-man-show type story in the hunter genre, the lead needs to be insanely good at acting… I wonder if that’s even possible. With this kind of role, even slightly subpar acting can totally break immersion.”
— Theqoo user
Other reactions included quick rejections and worries about the adaptation quality, especially given recent failures like Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint:
“No, please.”
“Huh?”
“Fans have enough reasons to worry about it. I’m not sure about the acting, but looking at what’s happening with Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, there are just so many unpredictable variables.”
— Theqoo users
The live-action will be helmed by directors Lee Hae Jun (Ashfall) and Kim Byung Seo (My Dictator, Cold Eyes).
As the controversy gains traction, fans remain split on whether Byeon Woo Seok can pull off the iconic role and if the adaptation will meet expectations. Netflix and the production team have yet to respond to the backlash.