Born in Seoul, Korea in 1949, Sung Sam Park began painting by the age of twelve. His talents as both a teacher and an artist were recognized immediately. By the time he entered junior high he was already teaching at a high school level. Park soon attracted the attention of prominent artists and heads of state. Impressed by the young boy's talent, Byun Si-Jin, a university president of Jo-Joo Island became his private teacher and mentor. The President of South Korea, Yoon go-Sun, presented numerous First Place awards to Park for his entries in the national competitions of the Mok-Woo Art Society. To date Park is the youngest person ever to have entered such competitions.

Besides the usual obstacles to success as an artist, Park had to overcome the strident resistance of his traditional-minded Korean family. Five generations, the extended Park family had only one son. Sun Sam Park was the only son for his generation, and as such shouldered the burdens and expectations of a proud family. "Be an engineer, or something, anything respectable," his father had exhorted him. But young Sam would not be deterred or dissuaded from his sense of destiny.

After graduating from Yung Ang University in 1973, Park traveled to France where he studied painting in Paris. His artistic style today clearly reflects that of the French impressionists. The artist briefly returned to Korea for a national competition sponsored by the 1988 Seoul Olympic games. With more than two thousand entrants in the competition, Park won and received a Gold Medal. Following the Olympics, his painting was purchased by the Hyundai Corporation for permanent display at their corporate headquarters.

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, he was commissioned by the President to paint the First Lady's portrait. It is now on display in the Presidential Palace. Another painting Park created while in Greece depicted Michael Dukakis' birthplace and was later purchased by the former governor of Massachusetts.

In 1994 Park came to America, where he continues to live on the West Coast. In the Spring of 1998 the first limited edition works by Sam Parks premiered at Hanson Gallery Carmel followed by a one man exhibition of his impressionistic work.