Who is Han Song Yi in Solo Leveling? Explored

Modified Jan 03, 2025 03:30 GMT

Solo Leveling and the role of Han Song Yi in the series (Image via A-1 Pictures).

The Solo Leveling anime is returning this January and if there is one character that people need to keep an eye on, that is Han Song Yi. She first appeared in the debut episode of this A-1 Pictures production in the first season chapter 37 of the webnovel and in chapter 11 of the Webtoon version of the series, although her biggest role is in the upcoming Red Gate arc.

Han Song Yi could be considered the main cause of the Red Gate arc, which is going to be the focus of the second season of the Solo Leveling anime, as she wants to become a Hunter, and the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo, has to teach her the challenges that appear in this profession.

In many ways, she serves as a way to remind people of the dangers of becoming a Hunter and the risk these individuals take for money.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a publication.

Explaining who Han Song Yi is in Solo Leveling

The character as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures).

Han Song Yi is a Korean high school student and is introduced as one of Sung Jinha's best friends, who also happens to be the sister of the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo. While the anime, Webtoon, and web novel versions of the story have given her different points of introduction, she starts as somewhat rude and carefree about her studies.

However, once she discovers that there is a lot of money involved in the business of being a Hunter, she decides to become one, much to Sung Jin-Woo's surprise, who notices that she is simply not strong enough to participate in these ventures. She plays a minor role in the Yoo Jin-Ho Raid Party arc as one of Jin-Ho's party members, but she doesn't much at this point of the story.

The protagonist eventually discovers Han Song Yi's connection to his sister and decides that he wants to keep her safe and tries to explain to her the dangers of the job.

Since she wasn't listening, he decided to use his connections with the White Tiger Guild and set up a training montage for her to experience the rigors of the profession, but things go wrong and they end up going through a Red Gate, starting the titular arc.

More about this character

Song-Yi as a member of Jinho's Strike Team (Image via A-1 Pictures).

It is fair to say that Han Song Yi is a minor character in Solo Leveling but she is the main catalyst for the events of the Red Gate arc, which has her and Sung Jin-Woo trapped in a winter landscape and cannot escape. However, when the remaining party goes to defeat that dungeon's boss, she stays with the protagonist, which ultimately proves to be the main reason she is still alive in the franchise.

Sung Jin-Woo takes care of the vast majority of the enemies in the arc and is the one responsible for killing the boss, Baruka, whose victory also displays Han Song Yi smiling in relief. At the end of the arc, she understands what her friend's brother is saying and decides to retire from being a Hunter, with her not being prominent in the story ever again.

Final thoughts

Han Song Yi, as mentioned earlier, is a minor character in Solo Leveling but she is bound to have her moment in the spotlight during the second season of the anime. There wouldn't be a Red Gate arc without her and also serves as a reminder that Hunters constantly risk their lives in this profession.

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Edited by Tiasha