After completing his military service, which left him feeling uncertain about his future, his father recommended modeling.

He debuted in 2010 and gained recognition through various fashion shows and pictorials, including those for Mbio and General Idea.

[1][2][3] Initially, Kim worked as a model at Esteem, but after leaving the agency, he faced about 18 months of unemployment.

After Esteem closed down, he had the opportunity to audition for the KBS drama Blade Man, featuring Shin Se-kyung and Lee Dong-wook.

A friend and fellow model, Ahn Jae-hyun introduced him to HB Entertainment, leading to him working with both agencies.