Hong, Suyong
Summary
Hong Suyong is a Korean professional Go player who is two years younger than Hikaru. He first appeared in the manga at the age of 12. Prior to Hikaru’s professional examination, Hikaru, Waya, and Isumi visited various Go salons to refine their skills. There, they encountered Suyong, who was on vacation from Korea while his uncle managed the salon. Although Suyong was then a top-tier Kenkyuusei, the Korean equivalent of an insei, he had grown disheartened by a string of recent defeats and the resulting drop in his ranking. A heated exchange with Hikaru prompted an intense match at the salon. Despite Suyong’s loss, the game provided a cathartic release, and he vowed to become a professional so he could challenge Hikaru again, etching the Japanese player’s name into his memory. As a pro, Suyong quickly established himself as one of Korea’s most prominent young talents after defeating a 9-dan player. He also formed a friendship with Ko Yeong-ha, Korea’s number one young professional, and often visited his residence.
