One time, when he was recording for a TV show, a comedian said that Hong's physical appearance is a little bit different with most of the people, then he asked him if he's attracted to man. Hong immediately answered the question by Yes! However, the recording ceased and failed to come out that he's a gay.

Afterwards, he gathered some reporters and journalists to reveal his homosexuality. After that the network fired him from his prime-time variety show. Then, after three years, he finally got a role as a bisexual. He strived to get his rights as a gay. He has two sisters. After his elder sister got divorced, he adopted her children and changed their surname to his.

Today, most of the people's awareness about sexuality have changed because of his story. Hong is certainly affecting Korean's culture. He also lives hard as an actor, restaurateur, and adjunct professor for Media Studies. He has a quotation "we have to trier than other people so that they may not be discriminated. Some people said there are B(Birth) and D(Death) in life and there is C(choice) between B to D. People have right to choose their life." Obviously he chose his life.

Hong is the most prominent Gay celebrity in Korea. I respect his choice.

Now, we call him the Top Gay.