[13] In 2013, after graduating from college, Kim auditioned for a play based on the stage experience he had accumulated while attending Seoul Institute of the Arts.

[14] At the end of 2013, Kim took on the main lead role in play Words I Couldn't Say for 7 Years, written and directed by Park Jung-in, at Daehakro Moonlight Theater.

In 2015, Kim auditioned for Austin role in Korean revival of Sam Shepard's acclaimed True West, directed by Oh Man-seok.

He reprised his role as Austin in Korean encore performance of playwright Sam Shepard's play True West Return.

[30] Then appeared in 2016 revival of Patrick Marber's hit play Closer, directed by Roh Deok, opposite Bae Seong-woo, Seo Hyun-woo, Kim So-jin, and Park So-dam.

[34] Kim made his screen debut at the beginning of 2017 in the KBS2 office drama Good Manager, after auditioning at the suggestion of producer Lee Eun-jin [ko] who watched his performance in the play Closer.

Seon-ho has that ability, and I think we had good chemistry as well.In 2018, Kim portrayed the lead role of a painter in the drama special You Drive Me Crazy, which aired for four episodes in May.

In April of the same year, he also starred in the historical drama 100 Days My Prince, as Jung Jae-yoon, a genius yangban with a lower status as the illegitimate son of a concubine.

[48] Later in October 2019, Kim starred in the tvN investigative crime drama Catch the Ghost opposite veteran actress Moon Geun-young.

During the airing of Start-Up, Kim topped the monthly brand reputation ranking index by the Korean Business Research Institute and experienced a surge in popularity domestically and internationally.

That was an ecstatic feeling that I cannot forget.Kim collaborated with Epitone Project [ko] to release the single "Reason" on May 8, 2021, which he sang and co-wrote, having previously appeared in the latter's music video.

That way, you will have nothing to be afraid of.In August 2021, he starred in the tvN drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha alongside Shin Min-a,[71] where he played an officially unemployed but all-around handyman in a seaside village of Gongjin.

[74][75] In September 2021, during Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha's airing, Kim once again topped Korean Business Research Institute's brand reputation ranking index.

[80] Shin Min-a's leading role as Hye-jin and Kim Seon-ho's performance as Chief Hong is the glue that holds the series together.

Their magnetic on-screen chemistry is akin to that of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.In December 2021, he ranked first place in Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

[80][86] Kim was announced to make a comeback to the theater in May 2022, participating in the third installment of The 9th Best Plays Festival,[E] Touching the Void by David Greig.

[94][95] Prior to this, at the 'Yong Film Night' event on December 7, 2022, it was announced that Kim Jee-woon will co-direct the OTT series with Park Bo-ram.

The decision to expand it into an OTT Series was made to effectively showcase the individual charm of each character and highlight the directorial expertise of Park Hoon-jung through distinctive and impactful scenes.

[116][117] On April 8, Kim made a surprise appearance at The Childe's Japan premiere, joining Korean culture journalist Masayuki Furuya [jp] for a stage greeting attended by around 600 people.

In the same day at 19:00 (KST), the 'Tyrant Sample Chasing Competition' fan event held on the 5th floor of the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas.

The clothing he wore quickly sold out, and content related to him and the brand became a trending topic on social media platforms in the Philippines.

[150] In February 2024, NutriAsia's UFC, a Philippine food brand, announced a new line of Korean-inspired meal mixes with Kim as the endorser.

The campaign invite customer of the three countries to participate in a special activity for a chance to win a grand prize: round-trip airfare and a tour package to South Korea for two people.

[167] On October 26, 2021, a South Korean media outlet published evidence challenging the accusations of Kim's ex-girlfriend, citing sources from close acquaintances of both parties; the report concluded that the decision to abort was mutual, that Kim had been supportive throughout the process, and that the pair had broken up the following year due to questionable circumstances involving the ex-girlfriend.

[F] His agency stated, "In return for the support and love he received from many people, he donated with the hope that it might be even a bit of help for children and their families who are going through a hard time.

"[175] In September 2021, Kim partnered with Marco Rojo for the 'Happy Bean Special Funding Project'[G] raising money for better residential conditions for the elderly.

"[178] In September 2022, through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association,[H] Kim donated the full amount of his theater fee from play Touching the Void to help the victims of Typhoon Hinnamnor.

[180] In May 2023, Chairman Shin Hee-young of the Korean Red Cross announced that Kim had donated ₩100 million from his fan meeting's proceeds to support aging out youth.

The tour included stops in Manila in January, Bangkok in February, Hong Kong in April, Tokyo and Taipei in May, Jakarta in June, Kuala Lumpur in August, and Singapore in September.

The 2023 ₩100 million donation was utilized by the Korean Red Cross to provide essential support to 146 aging out youth,[B] including daily necessities, learning devices, exam fees, medical expenses, and improvements to their living environments.