Cha Jun-hwan transforms into Sung Jin-woo, the protagonist of Solo Leveling, with his own choreography

National figure skater Cha Jun-hwan has returned as the protagonist who brings a webtoon IP onto the ice. On the afternoon of the 7th, Cha attended the press call for the ice show ‘Solo Leveling on ICE’ held at the Mokdong Ice Rink in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, where he performed a demonstration stage playing the role of Sung Jin-woo, the central character of the work.

Based on the global hit ‘Solo Leveling,’ which has amassed 14.3 billion cumulative views, this production returns eight months after its premiere last December. Built upon the universe of the mega-hit IP that spans web novels, webtoons, animation, and games, the show depicts the journey of Sung Jin-woo, an ordinary E-rank hunter, as he gains extraordinary abilities and transforms into a powerful hunter.

Cha Jun-hwan’s Choreographic Involvement and the Trust of His Peers

Cha Jun-hwan, playing the lead role of Sung Jin-woo, collaborated with figure skating choreographer Kim Hae-jin to directly participate in the co-creation of the choreography. “Since there was a premiere, I focused on bringing out the character's essence and tried to contribute more ideas,” Cha remarked. “We collaborated on many parts to incorporate figure skating elements, and it was a valuable experience.”

His fellow skaters on stage expressed high confidence in Cha's choreographic capabilities. Kim Ye-lim, playing Cha Hae-in, said, “Jun-hwan oppa choreographed everything during practice. Since he has watched me since my competitive skating days, he struck a perfect balance between the character Cha Hae-in and the skating movements of Kim Ye-lim.” Lee Si-hyeong, a member of the original cast, added, “Cha Jun-hwan is a senior in skating, so I receive a lot of advice from him. He complemented the parts that were lacking in the premiere and specifically added choreography for the male hunters, allowing me to have more stage time.”

A Stage Composed by a National Team Lineup

Choreographer Kim Hae-jin explained the composition of this performance, stating, “It includes techniques seen in figure skating singles, and the skating elements blend beautifully with the artistry.” Kim noted that Cha Jun-hwan worked hard to showcase powerful lines while serving as a co-choreographer.

The revival production features a large number of former and current national-level figure skaters. Led by Cha Jun-hwan as Sung Jin-woo, the cast includes Kim Ye-lim as Cha Hae-in, Lee Si-hyeong as Igris, and Shin Seok-su as Yoo Jin-ho, adding the strength of traditional skating. Additionally, star creator Amy, who boasts 5.6 million subscribers, joins the cast as Lee Joo-hee. The press call also saw the attendance of the production team, including Executive Producer Song Dong-il, Director Woo Jin-ha, and Music Director Lee Kang-hyun, who participated in the highlight demonstration.

12 Performances Utilizing Large LEDs and Flame Effects

The show will run for ten days from August 7 to 17 at the Mokdong Ice Rink. Spanning a total of 12 performances, this ice show combines spectacular skating performances with a vivid narrative and music. The demonstration stage showcased sophisticated production utilizing large LED screens and flame special effects alongside refreshing skating techniques.

The performances will continue at the Mokdong Ice Rink until August 17. The production team includes Executive Producer Song Dong-il, Director Woo Jin-ha, and Music Director Lee Kang-hyun, with figure skating choreography by Kim Hae-jin.