Recognizing his son's talent, such as forming a street dance team with friends and participating in competitions, Kim's father first encouraged him to pursue acting.

However, at the time, it was the only role left, and Kim portraying a homeless person, a nail salon owner, and the youngest member of the theater troupe across three acts.

[3] Kim Dong-hwi quickly developed a passion for acting, appreciating "the joy of working together as a team for a long time" on stage.

After demonstrating his potential, the production company Bidangil Pictures later offered him another role, as a younger version of the character acted by Yoo Yeon-seok in Perfect Proposal (2015).

[1] Kim applied for the audition independently, without an agency, and overcame a highly competitive selection process with a 250:1 ratio to secure the lead role in In Our Prime, acting alongside veteran actor Choi Min-sik.

[7] Kim's role models include acclaimed actors Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, Cho Seung-woo, and Park Jung-min.