Hwang is nicknamed "Hwangso" (황소), the Korean word for bull, in South Korea due to his aggressive playing style and surname.

They finished top of their UEFA Europa League group for a record fourth time before beating Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund, thus making their first-ever appearance in the competition's quarter-finals.

[13] During the 2019–20 season, Hwang drew plaudits alongside Salzburg's attacking players Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino.

[21] He helped Leipzig to reach the 2021 DFB-Pokal Final by scoring against VfL Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen, though he was a substitute.

On 29 August 2021, Hwang joined Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season long loan.

Hwang scored his first FA Cup goal away to Liverpool in the third round of the competition on 7 January 2023, his strike tying the game at 2–2.

[29] On 30 September 2023, Hwang scored the decisive goal against Manchester City to win the match 2–1 at home to give the 2022–23 Premier League champions their first loss in the 2023–24 season.

[34] Como later reported that the remark was calling Hwang "Jackie Chan", who is a Chinese actor that commonly features in Asian stereotypes.

[35][38] Hwang scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season, Wolves 2nd in a 2-0 win over Man United to lift the team out of the relegation zone for the first time since November.

[39] Hwang participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics and scored a goal in a group match against Germany, which finished in a 3–3 draw.

[40] In a friendly on 28 March 2018, Hwang scored South Korea's second goal against Poland, with the match ending in a 2–3 loss.

[43] In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Hwang started in South Korea's first two matches against Sweden and Mexico.