Hong played for 64 minutes in an away match against Stuttgart in the second round of the German Bundesliga in the 2024-2025 season at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 31. The team won a 3-3 draw.

He was deployed from the first half alongside Lee Jae-sung in his debut match for Mainz. The two players were on the right and left wings in the 3-4-3 formation.

Hong Hyun-suk's transfer was announced on April 29. He played in front of Mainz fans in just two days.

Hong failed to score an offensive point, but displayed good teamwork with Lee. He participated in the scoring scene. When his team was trailing 1-2, he cut off the opponent's pass at the half line through pressure in the 15th minute of the second half. This is the starting point of Jonathan Burkardt's goal, which connected a side cross that followed several passes by his teammates at Mainz, including Lee Jae-seong, with a header.

Earlier in the 6th minute of the first half, Hong Hyun-seok stole the ball from the opponent with a dedicated tackle and then crossed from the left side to help Lee Jae-sung shoot the header. The ball did not head to the net, but it was a scene that made us expect the combination of Hong Hyun-seok and Lee Jae-sung's "Korean duo" in the future. 메이저놀이터

According to the soccer statistics site "Foot Mob," Hong Hyun-seok played 64 minutes, recording one shot, 95% pass accuracy 18/19, 30 ball touches, two touches in the opponent's box, three offensive area passes, 100% long pass accuracy 1/1, two ball snatches, two interceptions, five defensive actions, three recoveries, 40% 2/5, two fouls, and one foul.

In 87 minutes, Lee Jae-sung recorded one shot, 91% pass success rate 21/23, two chances creation, one blocked shot, 34 ball touches, three touches in the opponent's box, one attack area pass, two ball taken away, 50% tackle success rate 1/2, two header clear, and six defensive actions.

After the match, the two players will be separated for a while. Lee Jae-sung will join Hong Myung-bo for an A-match in September. Hong did not make the roster.

South Korea will play the first match of the third qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea and the U.S. at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Sept. 5. Then, it will play the second away match against Oman at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman, at 11 p.m. on Sept. 10.