Solo Leveling: What Happened to Min Byung-Gyu on Jeju Island?

Sung Jinwoo, the new Shadow Monarch, has always rescued his friends from menacing creatures that appear inside the gates. However, he decided to sit out the Jeju Island raid to take care of his mother, who had just woken up from an Eternal slumber. Unfortunately, this decision resulted in a significant death toll for Korean and Japanese hunters. Min Byung-Gyu, one of the most powerful hunters in Korea, became a victim of Ant King’s unstoppable rampage. So, if you want to learn about what happened to Min Byung-Gyu during the Jeju Island raid, find out the healer’s tragic fate in this guide.

Spoilers Warning

This article includes major spoilers for Min Byung-Gyu’s character in Solo Leveling. So, we highly recommend reading the manhwa or watching the anime to avoid ruining the intended experience.

Who Is Min Byung-Gyu in Solo Leveling?

In Solo Leveling, we are introduced to Min Byung-Gyu as one of the best hunters in Korea. He is a healer-type hunter who climbed to the top rank, S-Rank, in the series. We’ve only seen a handful of healers who achieved the S-Rank, so you can see how impressive this feat is. Byung-Gyu is also a close friend of Baek Yoonho, the Guild Master of the White Tiger Guild.

As an S-Rank healer, Min Byung-Gyu participated in all the previous unfruitful raids on Jeju Island. However, Eunseok, an S-Rank hunter and a good friend of Min and Baek, unfortunately died during the third raid. So, Min Byung-Gyu retired from being a hunter as his best friend’s death on the ant-infested island left him distressed and unwilling to continue his hunter journey.

Min Byung-Gyu’s Tragic End in Solo Leveling

Even though Min Byung-Gyu officially retired from the hunter business, he still shared his previous raid experiences when needed. He was the first to discover that the ants had evolved, which sparked the start of the fourth and final Jeju Island raid. While he initially opted out of the final raid, Byung-Gyu later joined the raiding party to help his friends and put an end to the ants.

However, his decision to return to Jeju Island fatefully cost his own life. The raid proceeded swiftly as the Korean hunters team took out the Ant Queen as they planned. But the hunters didn’t expect the arrival of the mighty black ant, aka the Ant King, who came to his mother’s death cry. The Ant King ate his mother’s head to figure out how the events transpired before his arrival.

After the Ant King found out that the Korean hunters were responsible for his mother’s death, the monstrous ant began to mercilessly strike the hunters one by one. Even Cha Hae-In was instantly struck down by the merciless ant and couldn’t be healed with the Elixir of Life, as witnessed in Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 12.

These hunters were no match for the sheer powers of the Ant King, and Byung-Gyu was the sole reason for their survival. By utilizing his “Disguise” skill, the healer hid his presence and continued healing his allies. Nevertheless, the Ant King easily tracked him down as his sense was on another level.

The black ant wasted no time and stabbed Min Byung-Gyu before he could do something to survive. While the S-Rank healer asked his friends to run away, the Ant King quickly devoured his head and used his “Gluttony” skill to inherit Byung-Gyu’s speech and healing ability. So, Min Byung-Gyu was ruthlessly killed by the Ant King during the fourth Jeju Island Raid.

Min Byung-Gyu’s Revival in Solo Leveling

Later on, after defeating the Ant King, Sung Jinwoo turns his attention to Cha Hae-In, who is on the brink of death. When his healing medicines do not work on Cha Hae-In, he has no other option but to revive Byung-Gyu as one of his strongest shadows. Thus, we see Min Byung-Gyu being brought back to life as a shadow to successfully treat Cha Hae-In’s wounds. But Sung Jinwoo lets his soul rest in peace after helping them out as requested by his friend Baek Yoonho.

Furthermore, when Jinwoo used the Cup of Reincarnation to turn back time in the ending of Solo Leveling, Min Byung-Gyu didn’t lose his life in the revised timeline. In contrast, he was shown as a history professor. At last, the gods decided to be kind to the S-Rank healer in the revised timeline of the series.

That said, what are your opinions on Min Byung-Gyu’s character in Solo Leveling? Let us know in the comments below.