Byeon Woo-seok is back in the spotlight! With his drama ’21st Century Grand Princess’ coming to an end, fans are buzzing about his already-confirmed role in the global powerhouse ‘Solo Leveling’.
Byeon Woo-seok is set to star in ‘Solo Leveling’, a joint production by Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures, which will be released on Netflix. However, along with the excitement comes a major challenge. How he handles the recent acting controversies will likely be a pivotal moment in his career.
‘Solo Leveling’ is based on the mega-hit web novel and webtoon of the same name, boasting a staggering 14.3 billion cumulative views globally. Even the anime became a worldwide phenomenon, sweeping major categories at the Crunchyroll Awards.
Naturally, expectations for the live-action version are sky-high. The character Sung Jin-woo requires a wide range of acting, from being an ordinary, desperate person to showing an overwhelming growth arc. From his initial weakness to awakening as the strongest hunter, the role demands both delicate emotions and intense action. For Byeon Woo-seok, this is a golden opportunity to expand his acting spectrum, but it could also be his toughest test yet.
Byeon Woo-seok shot to superstardom in 2024 through the hit tvN drama ‘Lovely Runner’, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after actors thanks to his fresh romance vibes and youthful image.
However, as ’21st Century Grand Princess’ approaches its final episode on the 16th, he has faced some backlash regarding his acting. Despite the intriguing constitutional monarchy setting and the star-studded pairing of IU and Byeon Woo-seok, the drama was plagued by controversies over its world-building, plot holes, and alleged historical distortions. In the midst of this, Byeon’s performance also came under fire.
Some viewers expressed disappointment with his vocalization, line delivery, and emotional expression. Critics pointed out that he didn’t fully merge with the character, and some scenes were noted for awkward tones and facial expressions. While the ratings climbed thanks to the massive hype and the strong fandoms of IU and Byeon Woo-seok, he hasn’t quite shaken off the acting controversy label.
These concerns are now naturally shifting toward ‘Solo Leveling’. Since action and fantasy genres require much broader expression and deeper immersion than romance, the stakes are higher. Given the massive scale of the original fandom, his character interpretation, visual sync, and action skills will likely be scrutinized even more strictly.
Of course, if Byeon Woo-seok nails the role of Sung Jin-woo, it will be the perfect chance to erase those acting doubts. All eyes are on whether he can silence the critics and truly “level up” as an actor through ‘Solo Leveling’.
