Hong Hyun-seok to join Belgian club K.A.A. Gent

Hong Hyun-suk [INSTAGRAM]

U-23 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok is in the process of signing with Belgian club K.A.A. Gent for 1.5 million euros ($1.5 million), leaving LASK after a year in the Austrian Bundesliga.

According to an exclusive report from the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday, Hong underwent a medical test on Monday and the deal has now been completed with the Belgian First Division A club.

Hong, who was called up to the U-23 Korean national team for the first time this year, has appeared in all three LASK games so far this season, picking up one assist and helping the club rise to the top of the Austrian Bundesliga with two wins and one draw.

Hong joined LASK in July last year and appeared in 23 games with the Austrian club, picking up five assists. He also played in eight Europa Conference League games, where he added two more assists and picked up a goal against Armenian side FC Alashkert in the group stage.

K.A.A. Gent, often referred to as just Ghent, are the reigning champions of the Belgian Cup, earning the chance to compete in the Europa League playoffs this season.

If Ghent beats Cypriot side Omonia in the playoff on Aug. 18, the club will advance to the Europa League finals alongside teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Roma and Freiburg. If they lose, they'll drop down to the Europa Conference League alongside teams like West Ham and Villareal.

Ghent also has experience playing in the Champions League in the 2015-16 season, and Tottenham Hotspur fans may remember that it was Ghent that knocked the London club out of the 2016-17 Europa League.

Hong is a rising star that has picked up three caps for the Korean U-23 team and played his youth career with Ulsan Hyundai in the K League. Before joining LASK he played for Austrian side Juniors OÖ and German club Unterhaching. He plays predominantly as a central midfielder.

BY PARK RIN, JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]