FC Midtjylland have bolstered their squad with the signing of South Korean international Hong Hyun-seok on a season-long loan. The move from German club Mainz 05 was officially confirmed on the club's website on Tuesday, September 3, as reported by The Chosun Ilbo.
Hong Hyun-seok, aged 27 and born in 1999, will wear the number 20 shirt in Herning. He is a versatile attacking midfielder capable of playing multiple positions in the forward line. He has 16 caps for South Korea and won gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, earning him a military service exemption. He joins a team currently top of the Superliga with 14 points from six games and a goal difference of +5.
What does Hong bring to the squad?
Hong Hyun-seok adds experience and quality to FC Midtjylland's attacking midfield options. He has played in several European leagues, including in Belgium for KAA Gent and in France for Nantes, where he spent loan spells last season. Before that, he had stints in Austria and the German third division with Unterhaching. Sporting director Christian Bæk highlighted the player's broad profile. "Hong Hyun-seok has abundant international experience," Bæk said. "On the field, he is a player who can play multiple positions in the attacking line."
His arrival comes at a time when the team is also managing without the injured David Martínez Morales and Mads Bech Sørensen. Despite this, the team has remained unbeaten in its last three league matches, with a recent 1-1 draw against Silkeborg on August 30. You can follow the team's injury status on our injuries page.
Why did he choose FC Midtjylland?
The player himself expressed great confidence in his choice of Danish football. "Midtjylland is a big club, and as far as I know, the club has been watching me for a long time," said Hong Hyun-seok. "At the same time, I heard many good things about the club from Cho Gue-sung and Lee Han-beom."
His former teammates have clearly given a positive impression of the club and its working environment. Hong is described as humble and diligent, fitting the club's values well. His aim is to win the Danish championship and progress far in the UEFA Europa Conference League, which FC Midtjylland are participating in this season. The team currently leads the table by a single point over FC Nordsjaelland.
How does he fit into the current form?
The team's solid start to the season, with four wins and two draws, provides a good foundation for the new player. The next challenge is a important top-of-the-table clash against FC Nordsjaelland at home on September 7. That match will be a test of the team's ambition. See the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Hong Hyun-seok will be available to manager Thomas Thomasberg in a versatile role. His technical ability and work rate are expected to complement players like Cho Gue-sung in attack. A win in the upcoming match could strengthen the team's grip on top spot. The team's current position can always be followed on our standings page.
The South Korean midfielder has signed a loan deal that runs for the remainder of the 2026/27 season.
