[2] He is recognized as one of the most popular and notable musicians of the 1980s in Korea, well known for his unique, husky, emotional vocal style.

[1][4] Kim broke out of the hospital to finish the vocal recordings for his last album, showing his dedication to his profession.

[5] Kim was also honored by having three episodes of the popular singing competition show Immortal Songs 2 dedicated to his music.

[8] In 1976, Kim began to work with Jang-hee Lee on his first album, Spring Summer Fall Winter.

However, after the recordings were finished in 1978, the album was cancelled due to Jang-hee Lee's sudden move to the United States.

[citation needed] During this time, Kim became the lead singer of several underground bands, including The Eastern Light (동방의 빛), Black Butterfly (검은 나비), and the Messengers (메신저스).

During this time, Kim's parents and sister immigrated to Canada, and his wife began to live separately from him.

[citation needed] In 1989, Kim collaborated with SinChon Blues on their second album, helping write the song "Alley".

[9] In 1989, Kim recorded the soundtrack of the movie Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day, along with its title song.