He is known for his roles in the films The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996), Office (2015), The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo (2015), and Train to Busan (2016),[2] as well as the television dramas W (2016)[3] and Taxi Driver (2021).

While in Vietnam, he produced a successful local drama, but his tendency of prioritizing the work over profit led to financial struggles and long efforts to save money.

[11] Since his comeback, he has also appeared in various films such as Bukchon Direction, Architecture 101, Namyeong-dong 1985, 26 Years, Nobody's Daughter Haewon, Twenty, Minority Opinion, Assassination, and Office.

[6] In the worldwide hit film Train to Busan, released in July 2016, Kim played the supporting role of Yong-suk, a business executive and COO.

[12] Kim gained recognition for his villain role in Train to Busan,[13] and has also been part of projects like The Priests, Inside Men, Yourself and Yours, The King, Steel Rain, 1987, Golden Slumber, Rampant, Extreme Job, and Intimate Strangers.

[14] Kim gained more recognition in the MBC drama W by portraying Oh Sung-moo, a webtoon writer and the father of lead character played by Han Hyo-joo.

[14] In addition to film works, he has appeared in dramas such as Positive Constitution, Mr. Sunshine, Memories of the Alhambra, Dear Citizens!, and Arthdal Chronicles.

He is Cha Hyung-seok's (Park Hoon) father and meets his demise when NPCs, created by a bug, inadvertently cause his death while trying to manipulate Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin).

[22] Starting from October 15, 2022, he appeared as Chief State Councillor Hwang Won-hyeong in the fusion historical drama Under the Queen's Umbrella.