Hong Hyun-seok
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Hong in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 16 June 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Seoul, South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team |
Gent (on loan from Mainz 05) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2017 | Ulsan Hyundai[note 1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | → SpVgg Unterhaching (loan) | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | → Juniors OÖ (loan) | 52 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | LASK | 27 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Gent | 70 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Mainz 05 | 23 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | → Nantes (loan) | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026– | → Gent (loan) | 9 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | South Korea U17 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | South Korea U23 | 11 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | South Korea | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Hong Hyun-seok (Korean: 홍현석; born 16 June 1999) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a central or attacking midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Gent on loan from Bundesliga club Mainz 05, and the South Korea national team.
Club career
Early career
In January 2018, a youth player of Ulsan Hyundai, Hong was loaned to German 3. Liga club SpVgg Unterhaching.[1] On 27 February 2019, he made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Lucas Hufnagel in the 84th minute of a 3. Liga match against VfR Aalen.[2] In the summer of 2019, he was once again loaned, moving to Austrian 2. Liga club Juniors OÖ. After two years at Juniors OÖ, he joined LASK, making his first permanent move. During the 2021–22 season, he played for LASK at the Austrian Bundesliga and the UEFA Conference League.
Gent
On 8 August 2022, Hong moved to Belgian Pro League club Gent in the aftermath of an ACL injury suffered by striker Tarik Tissoudali, becoming the first Korean to play for the club.[3] On 12 August, he scored a spectacular overhead kick goal in a 3–1 away win over Oostende, where he made his debut.[4][5] While adapting quickly at Gent in the first season, he had 5 goals and 5 assists in 31 Pro League matches,[6] and 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 Conference League matches.[7] His rapid growth at Gent led him to join the South Korea national team.[8]
Mainz 05
On 29 August 2024, Hong joined Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on a four-year deal until 30 June 2028.[9] During his first season at Mainz, he played as a substitute for main attacking midfielders Lee Jae-sung and Paul Nebel in 19 matches excluding four starts.[10]
Loan to Nantes
On 30 July 2025, Hong was loaned to Ligue 1 club Nantes, with an option to buy.[11] While Nantes struggled to escape the relegation zone in the first half of the season, he did not show great influence, appearing in only six matches. His loan contract was eventually terminated early.[12]
Loan to Gent
On 14 January 2026, he was loaned to Gent, returning to his former club until the end of the season.[13]
International career
Hong was included in South Korea's under-15 squad for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics held in Nanjing, China.[14] He played all four matches as a starter, earning a silver medal.[15]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 22 March 2026[16]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| SpVgg Unterhaching (loan) | 2018–19 | 3. Liga | 7 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | 2019–20 | Austrian 2. Liga | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Austrian 2. Liga | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |
| Total | 52 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 2 | ||
| LASK | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12[a] | 1 | 40 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 44 | 1 | ||
| Gent | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14[b] | 1 | 54 | 9 |
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 30 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11[a] | 1 | 43 | 7 | |
| 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 2 | 7 | 2 | |
| Total | 70 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 104 | 18 | ||
| Mainz 05 | 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |
| Nantes (loan) | 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Gent (loan) | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | |
| Career total | 194 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 41 | 5 | 247 | 22 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Conference League
- ^ Twelve appearances and one goal in UEFA Conference League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
South Korea U17
- Summer Youth Olympics silver medal: 2014[15]
South Korea U23
Notes
- ^ Played for Hyundai Middle School from 2012 to 2014, and Hyundai High School from 2015 to 2017, which were academies of Ulsan Hyundai.
References
- ^ Choi, Man-sik (18 January 2018). 울산 유스출신 유망주 오인표-홍현석 유럽 임대이적 [Hong Hyun-seok, a prospect from Ulsan Youth] (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "VfR Aalen – SpVgg Unterhaching 4:1 (3. Liga 2018/2019, 21. Round)". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Hong: Honoured to be the first Korean at Gent". KAA Gent. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Hyun-seok Hong with a Spectacular Goal vs. KV Oostende". Belgian Pro League. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Hong Hyun-seok scores stunning bicycle kick in Ghent debut". Korea JoongAng Daily. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Hong Hyunseok at Domestic Leagues". FBref. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Hong Hyunseok at International Cups". FBref. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ 클린스만호 진짜 1기 발표…홍현석 첫 발탁에 손준호도 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "05er Verpflichten Hyun-seok Hong" (in German). Mainz 05. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "1. FSV Mainz 05 » Statistics: Appearances, Bundesliga 2024/2025". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Hyunseok Hong rejoint les Canaris" [Hyunseok Hong joins the Canaries] (in French). FC Nantes. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "Hong Huyn Seok quitte le FC Nantes" (in French). FC Nantes. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Welcome back, Hongi!" (in Dutch). KAA Gent. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games – Football (men): Team roster – Republic of Korea (KOR)" (PDF). Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. 15 August 2014. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Football - Men - Gold Medal Match" (PDF). Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Hong Hyun-Seok". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Hong Hyun-seok" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
External links
- Hyunseok Hong at DFB (also available in German)
- Hyunseok Hong at kicker (in German)
- FC Juniors OÖ profile Archived 18 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine