About S. Sam Park

Sung Sam Park: South Korean visual artist aka S. Sam Park Early in his career, Sam Park attracted the attention of prominent artists and heads of state. Byen Si-Jin, former university president of Jeju Island ( a volcanic and the largest island in South Korea, was his private art teacher and mentor. The former president of South Korea, Yoon Bo-Sun, personally awarded him many First Places in the national competitions of the Mok-Woo Art Society. Sam Park is still the youngest person ever to have competed in these competitions. After graduating from Jung Ang University in 1973, Sam Park made his way to France, where he studied painting and lived with other young artists in Paris. His artistic style today clearly reflects the inspiration of the French Impressionists. Sam Park returned to Korea briefly in 1984 to participate in the national Olympic – sponsored art competition for the upcoming 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. With more than two thousand entrants in the competition, Park won and received a Gold Medal. Following the Olympics, Park’s painting was purchased by the Hyundai Corporation for permanent display at their corporate headquarters.

In 1986, S. Sam Park became a member of the jury of Heart and Mind Artists Association of Korea, which is the organization that assesses all artwork presented for juried competition in that nation. S. Sam Park then returned to Europe, where he lived for the next fourteen years, primarily in France, but also in Greece and on Cyprus. While living on Cyprus, Sam Park was commissioned by the President of Cyprus to paint the First Lady’s portrait. This and five other paintings by Sam Park are currently displayed in the collection in the Presidential Palace.