Suyong Hong
A Korean Go professional, 2 years younger than Hikaru. He was 12 when he first appeared in the manga. During the month before the pro exam, Hikaru, Waya and Isumi traveled to go salons to sharpen their skills, and in one of them they met Suyong, whose uncle runs a go salon, while Suyong was on vacation from Korea. At the time, Suyong was a first-rate Kenkyuusei (the Korean equivalent of an insei), but was disillusioned with his recent consecutive losses and subsequent drops in rank. Heated words between him and Hikaru led to the two playing an incredible match at the Go salon. Although Suyong lost, the game has a cathartic effect on him, and as he carved Hikaru’s name into his mind, Suyong swore to become a pro and play Hikaru again. As a pro, Suyong’s name soon emerges as one of Korea’s most prominent young talents after he defeats a 9-dan player. He also befriends Ko Yeong-ha, Korea’s no.1 young pro, and frequents his place.
Suyong appeared again in the manga as the third representative for Korea in the Hokuto Cup, after his victories in the Myungquin cup’s prelims rounds. During the opening ceremony preceding the Hokuto Cup, he was the first to catch winds of Hikaru’s misunderstandings with Ko Yeong-ha’s statements about Shuusaku and implored Yeong-ha to clarify the matter, which turned out to be a mere mistake of translation. However, a bemused Yeong-ha refused to let Suyong explain to Hikaru, and publicly re-addressed his statements (this time adding that Shuusaku would not hold a candle to Yeong-ha himself) before Suyong could inform Hikaru of the truth. This sparked Hikaru’s resentment towards Yeong-ha and determination to play him as 1st seat, and an argument between Yeong-ha and Suyong in private.
In the Hokuto cup, as the 3rd seat of Korea, Suyong went against Zhao Shii of China and Yashiro Kiyoharu of Japan, winning both his games and bringing victory to Korea.
