Song Tonguk was born in southern Korea (Chŏnju, Chŏlla province), and entered the sangha at the age of nine in 1857.

After his awakening, Kyŏnghŏ wrote: Upon hearing that there are no nostrils, I realize the whole world is my home; on the path under the Yŏnam mountain in June, people in the fields enjoy the day, singing the song of good harvest.

Some claim that he wandered around in the northern part of Korea as a beggar; and other sources report that he lived a life of a layperson, letting his hair grow and teaching Confucian classics.

Kyŏnghŏ's role in Korean Buddhism is great because his main disciples, Suwŏl–sŏnsa (1855–1928), Hyewŏl–sŏnsa (1861–1937), Man’gong–sŏnsa (1871–1946), and Hanam–sŏnsa (1876–1951) were extremely important in the transmission of the dharma.

Kyŏnghŏ’s unconventional lifestyle and eccentric character brought him some criticism as well as fame amongst the followers of the "wild freedom" style Sŏn masters.