Hong in Bŏm began his professional career as a journalist at the Korean Central News Agency in the late 1960s.
Little is known about his clerical and political career before 1980, when he became a deputy member of the Central Committee of the PPK by virtue of the provisions of the 6th Workers' Conference of Korea.
From November 1982, secretary of the party organization at the coal company in Anju (South Pyongan Province).
During the 3rd Korean Labor Party Conference on 28 September 2010, he was elected a full member of the Central Committee for the first time.
After the death of Kim Jong-il in December 2011, Hong in Bŏm was in high, 46th place in the 232-person Funeral Committee.