In her school's team for the national folk song competition, Kim played a male role, and their performance won the grand prize.

In the autumn of 2015, Kim made her debut as a theater actress, assuming the role of Yoo Hwa-yi, the female lead in Jang Jin's play Taxi Driver.

It was a musical production that unraveled a murder case from a decade ago, with the story seamlessly shifting between the past and the present through interviews.

"Peste" generated high anticipation as it was composed by Seo Taiji and arrangement by Kim Seong-su, which added to its appeal and popularity among audiences.

Her talent as an actress shone brightly when she reprised her role as Joan for a special performance of the musical "Interview" in Tokyo, Japan.

Additionally, she captivated theater audiences with her impressive portrayal of Natasha in the Korean adaptation of Maxim Gorky's classic play The Lower Depths.

Her unique interpretation of the role added tension and a fresh twist to the character, earning her the nickname 'Daehak-ro Kim Tae-hee' due to her beauty and skill on stage.

[7] Later that year, from June to October, Kim took on the supporting role of Seon in an encore performance of the musical "The Great Catsby," which was adapted from a popular webtoon by Kang Do-ha.

Premiered in 2005, the musical depicts the hardships faced by ordinary people through the story of Son Na-young, a bookstore clerk, and Solongo, a Mongolian migrant worker.

[9] Later that year, Kim joined the principal cast of the musical Maybe Happy Ending as the helperbot Claire for an encore performance in Japan.

In early 2019, Kim showcased her acting skills by portraying Mary Warren in the Korean adaptation of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible (1953) at the Lee Haerang Theatre of Art Seoul.

[10] Later that year, Kim landed the lead role in the period musical "Create-ing 2nd Work: Nangrang Kisaeng," produced by Jeongdong Theater.

[11] In her quest to attend school, Kang cut her hair short and disguised herself as a man in a suit, but her secret was eventually revealed, resulting in a scandal that made headlines on the third page of the Dong-A Ilbo on June 22, 1922.

The play's plot was based on the true story of Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University who achieved great success as a zoologist despite being autistic.

Critics noted her significant growth as an actor, showcasing a dramatic change in her acting style compared to her previous works such as the musicals "Julie and Paul" and "Demian.

"[15] In December, Kim joined Dream Theater Company's renowned play "Touch Your Love," written and directed by Jung Hyung-seok.

The play, which premiered in Daehak-ro in the fall of 2013, tells the story of three characters - Dong-wook, Eun-ju, and Yoon-hee - who carry emotional wounds caused by love and people.

In the 6th encore performance of the play, Kim and Lee Seo-kyung were double-cast as the female lead, Eun-ju, a character known for her clear subjectivity and free-spirited personality.

[31] Her first major television role in a supporting cast was in the healing drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), where she portrayed Ham Yung-kyung, a pregnant young mother who runs a mini-mart named after her daughter Bora.

[32] In the same year, Kim confirmed her appearance in her debut film "Jochiwon Commentary" produced by Blue Cucumber and directed by Choi Yang-hyun.

The musical is set in 1930s London and tells the story of the growth and love between a vampire named Arthur and Emma, an illiterate girl from a poor background.

The showcase took place on March 23–24, 2018, and the premiere was staged at the Black Theater, Chungmu Art Center in Seoul from November 30, 2018, to February 2, 2019, also under the direction of Kim Dong-yeon.

The play is "The Nature of Forgetting" from the British production Theater Re, which received praise for its movement full of the blessings of life when it premiered in London in 2017 under the direction of Guillaume Pigé and composer Alex Judd.

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture selected "Sylvia Lives" following its successful runs at the Arko-Han Ye-jong Musical Academy in 2020 and the Yes24 Stage Showcase in 2021.

This production tells the captivating story of Kim Hyang-an [ko] (1916-2004), a prominent Korean-Asian modern and contemporary artist, and her love life.

Kim Joo-yeon, Choi Ha-yoon, and Park Ji-ye share the role of Yoo Hwa-yi, a character who possesses a lively and cheerful charm, despite being both talkative and reserved.

[45] In April 2023, it was announced by Hong Company that Kim Joo-yeon had reprised her role as Byeon Dong-rim in the revival of the musical "L'art reste."