Photographer Seok-Woo Song’s project Wandering, Wondering draws from his experiences growing up in Korea, where the belief that personal sacrifice and hard work lead to success is deeply ingrained.
His perspective shifted during his military service, where he faced discrimination due to his dialect and cultural differences. This disillusionment inspired, an ongoing series that uses body language and staged performances to examine the societal pressure to conform and the resulting sense of isolation felt by many young Koreans.
Song’s images are striking in their simplicity: faceless, uniformed figures are photographed against expansive backdrops, reflecting the tension between individual identity and societal expectations. Whether in urban landscapes or nature, the men in his photos seem small yet defiant, their presence a subtle rebellion against conformity. In one image, a logistics center sign reads “reverse parking prohibited,” hinting at society’s harsh judgment of nonconformity. Another, set on a remote island, shows men balancing a cloth over their heads—a fragile act of unity and survival.
Song’s work speaks to the pressures that weigh on young people in Korea, where the path to success feels rigid and unforgiving. In a country facing a growing loneliness epidemic, particularly among its youth, his photos resonate deeply. Through his art, Song prompts us to reflect on our own experiences, reminding us that amid the societal pressures, there is space for empathy, growth, and quiet rebellion.
