During her time at the Blue House, Hong only took the lead in supporting nursing homes and orphanages, but refrained from outside activities.

Secretaries who have been with her for 20 to 30 years remember her as an adult who is fair, respects principles, and has contributed greatly to helping her husband to be honest.

[2] She was forced to step down from her position as First Lady in August 1980, after Major General Chun Doo-hwan and close allies within the military staged a coup d'état against Choi's government in December 1979.

As a result, Choi took care of his wife, while at the same time looked after his ailing health also.

She was the friend of Lee Hee-ho, wife of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

When her husband died two years later, her remains were relocated and reinterred at a special tomb site alongside Choi in the Daejeon National Cemetery.