PHILIP SONG
Family man. Reliable Steward. Entrepreneur.
Since 1989, Philip Song’s background has been in the field of corporate real estate. For over two decades, he has represented many companies in the relocation, expansion and other industrial real estate needs for numerous companies including Kia Motors, Hyundai, Samsung, Metropolitan Water District, Hyundai America, Hyundai Construction N. America, Daewoo America, Hamilton Steel, Korean steel companies, in addition to many other corporations.
Philip Song has also been recognized by the Irvine Company as he had represented Kia Motors America in the initial debut launch in the United States.
As a young man, Song’s first job was at McDonald’s earning $3.25 an hour. He also worked at Home Depot in the building materials department. He also worked as an intern at the firm Drexel, Burnham, Lambert where Michael Milken once rose to fame. These initial experiences in the business world taught him valuable lessons which he still remembers and learns from, today.
Philip Song is also an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America having earned his honor from Troop 6060 Greater Boulder Dam Area Council in Nevada, under the leadership of Sgt. Dennis Lundberg, U.S. Marine and also Denny Rey, a U.S. Air Force fighter jet pilot from Nellis Air Force Base. Song considers the years with the Boy Scouts as one of his most memorable times growing up as a young man.
A graduate of Marshall School of Business, at the University of Southern California, Philip Song has been self-employed since 1996; and he is passionate about investing in people as well as in business. Song continues to have a positive impact in the development of various entrepreneurial leaders in business. In 1989 Song graduated USC with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Real Estate.
Philip Song was elected as vice president of the Asian American Business Association; and eventually was elected as its president. Over the years, Philip Song has worked with several Fortune 500 companies. Song also collaborated on various projects with many political leaders including Senator Daniel Akaka and Senator Daniel Inouye.
It was in the year 1989 that Philip Song met with the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan whom Song considers to be one of his most influential inspirations as a leader and public servant. Song has said that President Reagan and his various philosophies had impacted the way he viewed life, government and freedom. His meeting with President Reagan had left a deep imprint in his core of how he looked at commerce and the economy in macro-perspective. That same year, Song met with Bishop Desmond Tutu and was inspired in a personal way to not only be successful in personal life but to be successful in generosity towards community and society.
Since 1996, Song manages and invests in business projects including real estate, selected retail, wholesale distribution and in the healthcare industry. With exceptional results in his investments, some consider Song a subtle yet aggressive contrarian investor. Song tends to focus on the long-term, operating under the creed that meaningful investments be strategically diversified in both purpose and goal.
Philip Song considers working with like-minded entrepreneurs to build business and people alike, as one of his passions in life. “It is a privilege to be able to work with highly talented, passionate individuals who truly want to improve. When you surround yourself with accountable individuals and leaders who are passionate and determined to make outstanding progress and make life better in all aspects – spiritual, personal and in commerce, work becomes joyful.”
Philip Song is also an advocate for human rights awareness in North Korea. He has been working with both business and political leaders to bring public awareness to the international community and to the platforms of the United Nations. Although this effort inevitably coincides with the hopes as well as the complex challenges of the issues concerning the reunification in the Korean Peninsula, it is Song’s hope that one day, the dire situations will diminish; and the voiceless will be freed and families may be reunited.
When Philip Song isn’t working and supporting international humanitarian causes, Song’s first and foremost passion in life is his family and church. Song is particularly proud of his wonderful wife Christine and three children who also share his passions in life. They are all students of martial arts in Tae Kwon Do. They enjoy reading, traveling abroad, listening to music/musicals, playing the piano and the violin, and enjoy sports including swimming and playing golf.
Focus on the family, a personal relationship with God, good friends and meaningful relationships are some of the things that the Song Family values very highly. Supporting friends and family through thick and thin, is a big part. “ ‘Being there’ for both family and good friends, is what it’s all about.” Philip Song lives in Southern California, in the United States.