Park Ji-sung, the next generation bound for dramatic Germany, has been on the bench for six months, continuing a crisis without an exit

Apr 06, 2025

Hong Hyun-seok's 2025 is going really hard.

Mainz drew 1-1 in the 28th round of the German Bundesliga in the 2024-2025 season against Holstein Kilwa at the MEWA Arena in Mainz, Germany, at 10:30 p.m. on the 5th (Korea time). Mainz's fourth place was in jeopardy as they failed to catch the game they needed to win.

Hong Hyun-seok also failed to start against Kill, the lowest in the league. Hong Hyun-seok's last league start has not been played since September last year. Hong Hyun-seok has played 17 league games this season, with only four starting games. Even that was only when he was given the opportunity to start his first four games in a row after moving to Mainz. He played the remaining 13 games as a substitute.

He didn't have much time to play because he came out as a substitute. There are also a few games that have been played for more than 30 minutes as a substitute. As such, Hong Hyun-seok has been pushed to the 16th and 17th player in the choice of coach Bohenriksen Mainz.

It was the same in this game. Hong Hyun-seok appeared on the field for two minutes of extra time in the second half. The remaining two minutes of extra time were too short for Hong to show something. Hong Hyun-seok had to finish the stadium without catching the ball properly.

Considering how dramatic Hong Hyun-seok's big league challenge was, it is a tough debut season. Hong Hyun-seok, who was recognized as an ace in Henk, Switzerland, received military service when he won the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Thanks to this, the path to the big league was opened, but it was not easy.

Originally, the transfer to Trabzonspor in Turkiye was in the final stages. Korean fans wanted to challenge themselves to go to the big leagues, but Hong Hyun-seok made his own choice. Mainz moved at the end of the transfer market to recruit Hong Hyun-seok, who showed excellent performance at Hent. Mainz also brought Hong Hyun-seok for a considerable amount of money.

It was the moment when Hong Hyun-seok's trip to the big league took place. Since he was at Hent, he has been evaluated as having both Park Ji-sung and Lee Jae-sung's strengths, so he was expected to do well in the Bundesliga. But the big league was not an easy place, either.

Mainz is currently in a position to aim to win every game to advance to the European Champions League (UCL) for the first time in the club's history. Coach Henriksen is bound to be more conservative when it comes to selecting players. The only way to change coach Henriksen's mind is when Hong Hyun-seok is at the training ground or when he receives an opportunity. If this trend continues, Hong Hyun-seok's position on the Korean national team will be narrower.