Kim Gi-hyeon was born in Sanha-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Ulju, South Gyeongsang (now Gangdong-dong, North District, Ulsan) in 1959.

[2] He attended to Busan East High School before studying law at Seoul National University.

[3][4] On 12 April 2014, he contested Saenuri preselection for Ulsan mayorship and defeated Kang Ghil-boo.

[15] He contested UFP preselection for South District 2nd constituency and defeated Park Maeng-woo.

[19] On 29 March, he made his resignation without coming back to the position, in order to refurbish the party leadership.

[1] While serving as an MP, he was a member of South Korean centrist groups within the Grand National Party (GNP).