Hong's career took off in earnest after the 2011 death of Kim Jong-il, the country's leader, and the succession of Kim Jong-un.[1] Hong was number 126 on the funeral committee list of Kim Jong-il.[2] Since 2012, he has accompanied Kim on the occasion of various rocket test launches,[3] and on on-the-spot guidance tours since the beginning of 2013.[5] As of 2013[update], Hong is an alternate member of the Central Committee of the WPK.[6]