Thomas Gregory Song was a member of the 25th generation of the Song Family of the Eujin Clan, which was rooted in Nonsan City, South Chungcheong Province (충청남도) of the Korean Peninsula. The Song clan represented an elite family line that served the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the long-lasting final dynasty of the Korean Peninsula. The Joseon Dynasty was transformed into the Korean Empire (1897 – 1910) when the Qing Empire (1644-1911) granted the Korean rulers official independence from its tributary system following the Qing defeat to Japan in the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-95).
Members of the elite governing class, the Song Family line traces roots back to Song Dae-Oeno (dates unknown), who served as a Justice in the Royal Court of the Goryeo Dynasty. His son, Song Dok-Ju (the 2nd generation of the Song Family of Onjin Clan), was employed as a County Prefect. Since its origins, each generation of the Song family served in critical government posts. For example, Song Yo-hae, 1452-1510, of the 9th generation, served as a Metropolitan Governor. Song Ki-tae, 1629 – 1711, of the 15th generation, served as the Minister of Internal Affairs. And, Song Kyeo-Sa, 1407 -?, of the 7th generation, served as a Minister of Justice.
As the Japanese Empire gain influence and eventually annexed Korea in 1910, some members of the Song Family developed critical connections with the Japanese government. Notably, Song’s great uncle, Song Beyong-jun (1857-1925), was awarded the Japanese peerage title of viscount (shishaku), based on his work with the Japanese imperial government. As Song explained in an oral history interview in 2013, the Song Family was “split in six different ways because of the perplexity of how to survive under the Japanese occupation.” As a consequence, one of his “uncles accepted a Japanese title, [and] became a Japanese aristocrat.”
