[2] Song was born in Changjin County, Hamgyong Province, Joseon (now in North Korea).

He was an eighth-generation descendant of the famous Neo-confucian philosopher Song Si-yeol, albeit from an illegitimate line as his mother was a kisaeng.

He was one of the founders of the Iljinhoe, a pro-Japanese political society promoting the merger of Korea and Japan, and which was instrumental in bringing about the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910.

Following the annexation of Korea, Song was awarded the Japanese kazoku peerage title of viscount (shishaku) and a seat in the House of Peers of the Diet of Japan.

He later served on the Central Advisory Institute of the Government-General of Korea, and his title was subsequently raised to count (hakushaku).