The late Jang Seong-rak, who has become a legend in the webtoon industry, passed away three years ago.
Jang Seong-rak died on July 23, 2022, at the age of 37 due to a cerebral hemorrhage caused by a chronic illness he had been suffering from. Industry officials and fans both domestic and international expressed their deep condolences over his sudden passing.
Jang was a key figure who led explosive global popularity with the webtoon 'Solo Leveling,' which began serialization in 2018. This work, based on the web novel of the same name by author Chugong from 2016, depicts the journey of the weakest hunter, 'Sung Jinwoo,' as he grows into the strongest being through awakening. The setting of gates connecting the real world and other realms, intense battle scenes, and a thrilling storyline contributed critically to elevating the status of 'K-webtoon,' surpassing a total of 14.2 billion views worldwide as of 2021.
In addition to this work, Jang received acclaim for his high-quality artwork in works such as 'Beautiful Legend' and was actively involved as the representative of Redice Studio. Redice Studio stated, 'The deceased passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage caused by a chronic illness, and the funeral was quietly held as a family gathering according to the wishes of the bereaved family.'
Even after the passing of the deceased, fellow artists continued his legacy. In January 2023, Redice presented a spin-off of 'Solo Leveling' with colleagues who worked with Jang during his lifetime, and expressed their intention to continue the legacy he left behind.
Meanwhile, 'Solo Leveling' has garnered attention again as Netflix has officially announced the production of a live-action drama. Actor Byeon Wooseok will play the lead role of Sung Jinwoo, and directors Lee Jae-hoon from 'Kim's Convenience' and Kim Byeong-seo from 'Ashfall' will co-direct. The production is jointly conducted by Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures.
[OSEN]