An announcement from Mainz stated that Hyun-seok Hong is returning from his loan at Nantes and will continue his season with a loan to Gent. Hong was sent on loan to Nantes in the summer of 2024. Gent's current position in the Belgian league is 8th.

Florian Plettenberg reports that Hyun-seok Hong joins KAA Gent on loan until the end of the season. His previous loan at Nantes, where he had limited playing time, has been terminated. According to the report, Gent do not have a purchase option. Het Laatste Nieuws and Het Nieuwsblad report that Hong's medical tests could still be an issue, but this is expected to be completed without issue. Sky Sports and L'Équipe confirm that Hong is expected to move to Gent. L'Équipe also notes that negotiations were close to failing due to a dispute between Nantes and Mainz, but all parties are now in agreement.

Sky Germany reports that Hyun-seok Hong, whose contract with Mainz runs until June 2028, is expected to join La Gantoise on loan until the end of the current season.

There is growing speculation regarding Hyun-seok Hong's potential return to AA Gent, a club where he previously enjoyed significant success. Currently, he is under contract with FSV Mainz until mid-2028, and his market value is estimated at 3.5 million euros. While there is interest from Belgian clubs, no specific teams have been identified. Hong's stint at FSV Mainz has been challenging, as he played only 519 minutes across 23 matches last season, without scoring any goals and providing just one assist. This contrasts sharply with his performance at AA Gent, where he made a notable impact by scoring 18 goals and assisting 20 times in 104 matches. FSV Mainz secured his transfer from AA Gent in the summer of 2024 for a fee of 4 million euros. Despite the difficulties he has faced in Germany, Hong continues to attract attention from various clubs, including some in Belgium and possibly Union SG, although no particular teams have been confirmed.