Born in Jilin, Soon-ok moved to South Korea shortly before the Korean War.

[1] She debuted as a club singer in 1951, performing for the Eighth United States Army.

[3] Also a lyricist, her major hit was the song "누가 이사람을 모르시나요" ("Does Anyone Know This Person"), which was the theme song of the radio series 남과 북 ('North and South') and of the 1965 film adaptation with the same title, and which was covered by numerous artists, notably by Patty Kim in a 1983 successful version.

[1][2] In spite of her success, in 1965 she moved to Hong Kong and abandoned her musical activities.

[1][2] She eventually moved to the United States, before returning to Seoul in her late years.