Last updated: September 27, 2026 · Verified against official and primary sources
Solo Leveling is set in South Korea, mainly Seoul, with its most famous arc on Jeju Island. Later arcs move to Japan, the United States, and beyond.
The confusion comes from the Japanese TV broadcast of the anime, which relocates the story to Tokyo and renames the characters. International viewers, including on Crunchyroll, see the original Korean setting.
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Main city | Seoul, South Korea |
| Famous arc location | Jeju Island |
| Japanese broadcast city | Tokyo |
| Jinwoo’s Japanese name | Shun Mizushino |
| Origin of the story | South Korea |
Table of Contents
The Original Setting: South Korea
Solo Leveling was created in South Korea — the web novel by Chugong, then the manhwa by Redice Studio — and it is set there. The story centres on Seoul, where Jinwoo lives and where most early gates appear.
The most famous arc takes place on Jeju Island, off Korea’s southern coast, which has been overrun by mutant ants for years. Our Jeju Island arc guide covers it in full.
Later arcs move international, with events in Japan, the United States, and elsewhere as the story widens beyond one country.
Why Some Viewers Think It Is Set in Japan
Because there are two versions of the anime. The version most of the world watches keeps the Korean setting. The version broadcast on Japanese television does not.
In the Japanese broadcast, Seoul becomes Tokyo, Sung Jinwoo becomes Shun Mizushino, and Cha Hae-In becomes Shizuku Kosaka. These names were already used in the Japanese release of the webtoon, and the TV version carried them over.
The Jeju Island Arc in the Japanese Version
The localisation goes further in Season 2. In the Japanese broadcast, Jeju Island is renamed Kanan, and the hunters from Japan who join the raid are replaced by hunters from DFN, a fictional nation.
International viewers see the original: Korean and Japanese hunters on Jeju Island. But even the international version softens some of the manhwa’s edge — for example, it removes the moment where Jinwoo senses murderous intent from Goto Ryuji.
Our read
The change is political, not creative. The Jeju Island arc depicts a Japanese hunter association acting against Korea, in a story written against the real history between the two countries. Relocating it for Japanese television avoided that — and removed much of what gave the arc its weight. If you want the story as written, read the manhwa.
Is Solo Leveling Japanese or Korean?
Korean. The story, characters, and setting are Korean. The anime is produced by A-1 Pictures, a Japanese studio, which is why it is often assumed to be Japanese. Our manhwa vs anime guide explains how the formats relate.
| Element | Origin |
|---|---|
| Web novel | South Korea (Chugong) |
| Manhwa | South Korea (Redice Studio) |
| Anime studio | Japan (A-1 Pictures) |
| Setting | South Korea |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Solo Leveling set?
South Korea, mainly Seoul. The best-known arc takes place on Jeju Island, and later arcs move to Japan, the United States, and elsewhere.
Is Solo Leveling set in Japan?
No. The original is set in South Korea. The Japanese TV broadcast of the anime relocates the story to Tokyo and renames the characters, but the international version keeps the Korean setting.
What is Sung Jinwoo’s Japanese name?
Shun Mizushino. It is used in the Japanese release of the webtoon and the Japanese TV broadcast of the anime.
What is DFN in Solo Leveling?
A fictional nation used in the Japanese broadcast of the anime to replace Japan during the Jeju Island arc, which is itself renamed Kanan in that version.
Is Solo Leveling Korean or Japanese?
Korean. The web novel and manhwa are South Korean. The anime is produced by the Japanese studio A-1 Pictures.
Sources
- Solo Leveling, licensed English manhwa release
- International and Japanese broadcast versions of the anime
- Coverage of the anime’s localisation, 2024–2025
