She was born in 1943 in Keiki-dō (Gyeonggi Province), Korea, Empire of Japan to Choe Jeong-hui, one of the most popular female Korean writers in the twentieth century, and Kim Dong-hwan, a famous poet.
[1] Kim Jiwon graduated from Ehwa University in 1965, emigrated to New York City, USA in 1973, and published her first story in 1974.
Set in the United States, the story features the protagonist, Yun-ja, agreeing to marry Chong-il so that he can get a green card.
[2] Kim's story Almaden is similar: a Korean woman living in New York is unhappy with her marriage and life.
She becomes increasingly unhappy with her real life but, when her fantasy lover disappears, she is left back in her initial position, hoping that someone else will come to rescue her from her plight.