[CBC News] As of 5:47 p.m. on July 11, 2025, actor Byeon Woo-seok is firmly leading the July Netizen Awards’ Best Actor category with 5,827 votes—an impressive 36.2% of the total. This puts him well ahead of second-place Rowoon, who earned 1,895 votes (11.8%), reinforcing Byeon’s position as the top contender this month.
Alongside his voting lead, Byeon is making headlines for another major achievement. Netflix has greenlit a series adaptation of the globally popular web novel and webtoon Solo Leveling, and Byeon has been cast as the protagonist, Sung Jin-woo—raising fans’ anticipation through the roof.
Solo Leveling tells the story of Sung Jin-woo, an E-rank hunter who undergoes a phenomenal transformation to become the world’s mightiest hunter after a mysterious awakening. The original webtoon gained legendary status with over 14.3 billion global views during its run on Kakao Page.
Byeon Woo-seok, known for his “webtoon boyfriend” visuals and versatile acting, has won hearts through both K-dramas and films. Landing this Netflix lead role signals a major turning point in his career as he steps onto the global stage. Directing the series are blockbuster veterans Huh Joon-ho (Baekdu Mountain, Cold Eyes) and Kim Byung-seo (My Dictator). The production will be handled jointly by Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures, raising expectations for a high-quality adaptation.
Meanwhile, the competition remains fierce in the Netizen Awards. Following Byeon and Rowoon, Lee Min-ho sits in third with 1,491 votes (9.3%), Lee Joon-gi is fourth with 969 votes (6.0%), and Na In-woo holds fifth at 800 votes (5.0%). Fans are watching closely to see if any shifts occur before voting ends.
