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Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1955, Young Song’s passion for art was evident from a young age. At just 15, he began studying classical painting techniques, showcasing an early aptitude for artistic expression, and defining his creative journey.
 

In 1975, Song enrolled at Hongik University, where he honed his skills in drawing and compositional painting. 

He earned his B.F.A. from Hongik University in 1982 and subsequently took on the high school art teacher role. However, seeking a broader spectrum of experiences, he continued his education at Pratt Institute in New York in 1984. His MFA graduate thesis explored traditional Korean cultural symbols such as Changsung (totem poles) and Seongwhangdang (shrines), weaving together themes from Taoism and Totemism.

In his work, Song articulates complex ideas about existence, using geometric forms and symbolic shapes to convey emotional landscapes. He interprets the rectangle as a representation of the earth or female and verticality as phallic symbolism, embodying the five primary colors: yellow, red, blue, black, and white.

Returning to Korea in 1987, Song continued to teach, this time at several university, while actively creating art and making a name for himself in the Seoul art scene. A transformative trip to Canada in 1994 inspired him to immigrate in 1995 and work on expressing the profound beauty of its landscapes while staying true to the deep cultural symbolism of his home country.

After spending fifteen years in Vancouver, Young Song is now based in Creston, British Columbia. His work encapsulates the essence of his human experience—hope, solitude, loneliness, joy, and agony—within the expansive, unfilled spaces of his mental and emotional landscapes while expressing reverence for his culture and the nature surrounding him.