Background
Hong was born on Seoul in 1982.
Hong was born on Seoul in 1982.
Later he graduated from Chung-Ang University with Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.
Hong is best known worldwide for his portrayal of Thuy in the 2014 West End revival of the musical Mission Saigon. In 2006 Hong appeared on the Korean production of Mission Saigon as an understudy for Chris. With this experience he landed a role a year later as Haesoo, main character of the musical Cheotsarang (First Love), starring alongside Jo Jung-suk.
In the same year he also starred in Korean production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Tobias.
Hong became the center of attention in 2009 for his portrayal of the titular characters in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, one of the best-selling shows in Korean theatre. He was especially noted for being the youngest actor to portray the main character.
After his run on Jekyll & Hyde, he starred in a new musical Bballae (Laundry) as Solongo, the Mongolian immigrant worker The same year Hong appeared in The Phantom of the Opera as Viscount Raoul de Chagny.
A year after he was chosen to portray the titular character of the show, making him one of the youngest actors in the world to portray The Phantom.
In 2012, Hong portrayed Yuri Zhivago in the Korean production of the show Doctor Zhivago after reprising his role as Doctor Jekyll. After Zhivago he played the main character (Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote) on The Manitoba of Louisiana Mancha, and the male lead Bae Bijang on the show Saljjaki Opseoye (Sweet, Come to Maine Stealthily). A year after he also starred in Notre-Dame de Paris as Quasimodo.
In 2014, it was revealed that Cameron Mackintosh had chosen Hong to portray Thuy in the new West End revival of Mission Saigon.
After Mission Saigon and his return to of Korea, it was announced that Hong will star as Yagami Light in the upcoming musical adaptation of Death Note along with Kim Junsu as L Lawliet.
He made a debut on stage as an ensemble member of the musical The Last Empress.