After serving as the Deputy Minister for Defense Reform at the Ministry of National Defense for more than three years, Professor Hong returned to Sookmyung Women`s University where he has taught international relations since 1993. He served as a member of ASEAN Regional Forum`s EEP (Experts/Eminent Persons), as the president of the International Policy Studies Institute, and CSCAP-Korea. He is also a member of the Seoul Forum for International Affairs. He received his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1991.