The team won the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship in Edmonton, Canada, and Kim led the attack alongside Lee Dae-ho, Choo Shin-soo (the eventual MVP of this event), and Jeong Keun-woo, batting .433 with 3 home runs.

He made his KBO debut on April 17, 2001, as a starting first baseman against the Hyundai Unicorns.

After the 2001 season, Kim was honored with the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.

Kim left the KBO for Nippon Professional Baseball in 2010–2011, playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

On 6 June 2020, Kim became the youngest player in the KBO to reach the career milestone of 3,500 total bases.

Kim was the fourth player in the KBO League to reach 3,500 total bases in his career, and the first right-handed hitter to do it, after lefties Yang Joon-hyuk, Lee Seung-yuop, and Park Yong-taik.