He began his literary career when his short story "Georiui masulsa" (거리의 마술사; The Street Magician) won the 2012 Munhwa Ilbo New Writer's Contest.
He married Son Bo-mi, a fellow writer who graduated from the same department at the same university 7 years his junior.
[2] Kim's debut work "Georiui masulsa" (거리의 마술사 The Street Magician) deals with bullying.
[3] As his works put emphasis on memory, Kim Jong-ok's stories are mostly narrated through the perspective of reminiscence.
His book, Gwacheon, uriga haji aneun il (과천, 우리가 하지 않은 일 Gwacheon, Something We Haven't Done), contains many stories of failed romance that are belatedly reminisced.