She is also known for her roles in the television series Cheese in the Trap (2016), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017), Yumi's Cells (2021–2022), and Little Women (2022), as well as the films Coin Locker Girl (2015), Hero (2022), and Exhuma (2024).

"[5] In 2012, Kim was catapulted from obscurity into the heart of white-hot media attention when she was cast as Eun-gyo, a 17-year-old high school student who awakens the lust of two men, in A Muse.

She returned to the screen in 2014, showcasing her versatility in the thriller Monster where she played a developmentally disabled woman whose younger sister is murdered by a ruthless serial killer; her grief and rage drives her almost psychotic, and she plans her revenge.

[16][17] Kim next starred in martial arts period drama Memories of the Sword, in which she acted opposite her longtime role model, actress Jeon Do-yeon.

[28] Later in 2016, she co-starred in Kim Eun-sook's megahit fantasy drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God alongside Gong Yoo.

The series was highly anticipated due to its great cast, renowned screenwriter, extensive publicity, and budget of over 30 billion won (US$25 million).

The film is based on the life of freedom fighter An Jung-geun and his assassination of Itō Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan and Resident-General of colonized Korea.

[citation needed] It was finally released in December 2022 and grossed over $24 million at the domestic box office, making it South Korea's 6th highest-grossing film of the year.

[44] In 2021 and 2022, Kim starred in Korea's first live action animation, romantic comedy drama Yumi's Cells, a tvN TV series based on the eponymous webtoon which ran for two seasons.

It follows the story of three sisters who, after an unforeseen incident, make their way out of poverty and find themselves on the wrong side of one of the country's richest and most influential families.

The Korea Herald extolled her "fine acting", calling her a "veteran actor" who "captivat[ed] the audience with her terror-inducing songs, oracles and prayers.

[citation needed] In late February 2020, the Korean NGO Good Neighbors revealed that she had made a donation of ₩100 million (approx.

[citation needed] On March 5, 2022, Kim donated ₩50 million through the National Disaster Mitigation Association (Hope Bridge) to help villagers affected by the Uljin wildfire.

[63] On August 11, 2022, she donated ₩50 million through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association to help those affected by the 2022 South Korean floods .

[65] On February 9, 2023, Kim donated 30 million won through an NGO specializing in children's rights worldwide to relief efforts to the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.