"[2] In 2005, Kim made her first big screen appearance with a leading role in Lee Yoon-ki's This Charming Girl, a character study of a twenty-something single woman working at a post office.

[11] In November 2006, Kim starred opposite Han Suk-kyu in the romantic drama Solace, receiving a nomination for Best Actress at the Korean Film Awards.

Shortly before the drama's premiere, Kim was involved in a drunken hit-and-run accident (this was her second offense; her first DUI was in 2000 for which she lost her license).

Amidst a wave of complaints demanding that she be fired from the drama, broadcast station KBS stuck by the actress, and Kim released an official apology and paid the fine of ₩10 million.

[22][23][24] After her change in relationship status on Facebook was leaked in March 2012, Kim confirmed that she was dating a Korean-Canadian 16 years her junior.