 The son of Korean immigrants in Germany, Hyun began playing ice hockey at the age of 5, progressing his way through local youth leagues and into the Krefeld Pinguine's youth development system.He became a regular player for the German Junior National Team.In 1997 he was summoned by Coach Miroslav Berek and General Manager Rüdiger Noack to begin the season with the Elite league team at the age of 17, where he scored two goals in five preseason games playing alongside former NHL player Peter Ihnačák (Toronto Maple Leafs).