[8][9] Kim soon enrolled for its vocal and dance lessons and learned all of its branches were owned by Seungri of Big Bang – notable attendees include BTS' J-Hope and Mijoo of Lovelyz.

[9][10] Kim was scouted by the celebrity and travelled to Seoul to attend a private audition for YG Entertainment with his referral and waited six months before his recruitment into its trainee program in August 2010.

[9] In his training period, Kim served as a backup dancer for the 2011 YG Family Concert and was urged by CEO Yang Hyun-suk to receive rap lessons for three months to boost his confidence.

(2013) which involved two assembles consisting of male trainees under YG Entertainment (A and B) who would battle for the chance to debut by series end after embarking on a one-hundred day journey.

[22][23] His credits in entertainment further included Live a Good Life (2018) with label-mates Kwon Hyun-bin and Yoo Byung-jae,[24] Legendary Big Fish (2019)[25] and Scene's Quiz (2019).

[32] On April 6, 2019, it was reported by an official that Kim quietly made a donation of 10 million Won to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief for the victims of the Gangwon Province wildfire in South Korea.

[34] During promotion of his solo debut, Kim collaborated with Naver Happy Bean Campaign which aims to raise fund and support to build a shelter/center for abandoned and neglected animals.

[36] On August 13, 2020, it was reported that Kim has donated 10 million Won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association for the flood victims who were affected by the heavy rain in Korea, showing his unstoppable good deeds despite currently serving in the military.