Hong Hyun-seok has steadily built a professional career across five countries, moving from Austrian football to the Belgian Pro League and then into Germany’s Bundesliga.
The South Korean midfielder draws interest for both his on-field ability and his growing earnings.
This article breaks down Hong Hyun-seok’s net worth, salary, contracts, and career journey in full detail.
Hong Hyun-seok’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hong Hyun-seok (홍현석) |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1999 |
| Age | 26 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder / Central Midfielder |
| Current Club | KAA Gent (loan from Mainz 05) |
| Parent Club | 1. FSV Mainz 05 (Bundesliga) |
| Turned Professional | 2018 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$2 million USD |
| Annual Salary | ~€1,420,000 (~$1.55M USD) |
Early Life & Career
Hong Hyun-seok was born on June 16, 1999, in South Korea. He showed exceptional promise at a young age, representing South Korea’s under-15 national team at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, where he started all four matches and helped the team earn a silver medal.
Those performances put him firmly on the radar of Korean clubs and scouts across Europe.
After finishing school, Hong joined K League side Ulsan Hyundai — now known as Ulsan HD FC — in 2018.
Rather than play domestic football immediately, the club sent him on loan to SpVgg Unterhaching in Germany’s third division.
He made his professional debut on February 27, 2019, coming on as a substitute in a 3. Liga match against VfR Aalen.
In the summer of 2019, Hong moved again on loan, this time to Austrian second-tier club Juniors OÖ, where he spent two full seasons. He scored 2 goals in 24 league appearances during the 2020–21 season, showing steady development.
After those loan years, he made his first permanent transfer to Austrian top-flight club LASK, where he gained experience in both the Austrian Bundesliga and the UEFA Conference League.
Professional Career
Hong’s career took a major leap forward in August 2022 when he signed for Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent.
He became the first South Korean player in the club’s history and made an immediate impression — scoring a stunning overhead kick goal on his debut in a 3–1 win over Oostende.
In his first full season at Gent, according to career statistics tracked on Transfermarkt, he recorded 6 goals and 5 assists across 37 league games, along with strong contributions in the Conference League.
His market value at Gent peaked at an estimated €9 million. That form earned him a place in the South Korea senior national team setup and eventually attracted Bundesliga interest.
On August 29, 2024, Mainz 05 signed him on a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of €4 million, as confirmed by Goal.com and multiple European football outlets.
He wore the number 14 shirt for Mainz and played 23 Bundesliga matches in the 2024–25 season, though largely from the bench.
In July 2025, Mainz sent him on loan to Ligue 1 club FC Nantes, reuniting him with fellow Korean international Kwon Hyeok-kyu. However, the loan underperformed — he appeared in just six competitive matches before it was terminated early.
In January 2026, Mainz sent him back to Gent on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, where he has already scored 1 goal in 10 appearances.
Hong also won a gold medal with South Korea at the 2022 Asian Games and appeared at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He has earned 15+ international caps for the senior national team.
Hong Hyun-seok’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Hong Hyun-seok’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million.
He built this wealth through professional contracts across Austria, Belgium, Germany, and France — spanning eight years of European football.
Contract
Hong Hyun-seok signed a four-year contract with Mainz 05 on August 29, 2024, running until June 30, 2028. Mainz paid KAA Gent a transfer fee of €4 million to secure his services.
The contract carries an estimated gross value of €5,680,000 remaining across the remaining years, according to salary tracking site Capology.
His current loan to Gent runs until the end of the 2025–26 season, after which he is expected to return to Mainz.
Salary
According to estimates from Capology, Hong earns an estimated base salary of €1,420,000 per year at Mainz 05 for the 2024–25 season, equivalent to roughly €27,308 gross per week.
This places him in the mid-tier salary bracket within the Bundesliga for players of his experience level.
His wages during his loan spells at Nantes and Gent are likely partially covered by those clubs as part of standard loan agreements.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | League | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | SpVgg Unterhaching (loan) | 3. Liga | ~€60,000 |
| 2019–21 | Juniors OÖ (loan) | Austrian 2. Liga | ~€80,000/yr |
| 2021–23 | LASK | Austrian Bundesliga | ~€200,000/yr |
| 2022–23 | KAA Gent | Belgian Pro League | ~€400,000 |
| 2023–24 | KAA Gent | Belgian Pro League | ~€600,000 |
| 2024–25 | Mainz 05 | Bundesliga | ~€1,420,000 |
| 2025–26 | Nantes / Gent (loans) | Ligue 1 / Pro League | ~€1,420,000 (Mainz contract) |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpVgg Unterhaching (loan) | 2018–19 | 3. Liga | 7 | 0 | — |
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | 2019–20 | Austrian 2. Liga | 28 | 0 | — |
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | 2020–21 | Austrian 2. Liga | 24 | 2 | 3 |
| LASK | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 24 | 0 | — |
| LASK | 2022–23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | — |
| Gent | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 6 | 5 |
| Gent | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 30 | 5 | — |
| Gent | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 0 | — |
| Mainz 05 | 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | — |
| Nantes (loan) | 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Gent (loan) | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 10 | 1 | — |
| Career Total | 195 | 14 | — |
FAQs
What is Hong Hyun-seok’s net worth?
Hong Hyun-seok has an estimated net worth of around $2 million USD. He earned this through professional contracts across Austria, Belgium, Germany, and France since turning professional.
How much does Hong Hyun-seok earn per year?
He earns an estimated €1,420,000 gross per year — roughly €27,308 per week — under his four-year contract with Mainz 05, which runs until June 30, 2028.
Which club does Hong Hyun-seok play?
He currently plays for KAA Gent in the Belgian Pro League on loan from Bundesliga club Mainz 05. The loan began on January 14, 2026, and runs through the end of the 2025–26 season.
How much did Mainz pay for Hong Hyun-seok?
Mainz 05 signed him from KAA Gent for a confirmed transfer fee of €4 million in August 2024. His contract runs until June 2028 and carries an estimated gross value of €5.68 million remaining.
Has Hong Hyun-seok won any international honors?
Yes. He won a silver medal with South Korea at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics and a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games. He has also represented South Korea at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
