[1] Kim began his career as a floor manager and supervisor in North Korea's heavy industry sector.

He possibly earned Kim Jong Un's approval by uncovering a corruption scandal involving cadre training facilities in February 2020.

[5] On 13 August 2020, in the wake of COVID-19 spillover in North Korea and floods hitting the southern part of the country, he was appointed premier of the cabinet by Kim Jong Un, and elevated to the top-level Politburo Presidium.

[8] In August 2023, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, publicly voiced strong criticism of Kim Tok Hun and his cabinet for their handling of the Ansok tideland disaster following Tropical Storm Khanun in a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) article.

Kim Jong Un underscored that the damage resulting from the Ansok tideland flooding was not solely a natural calamity but rather a human-induced disaster.

Following this incident, according to a North Hamgyong resident, "administrative officials, including the People's Committee and managers of factories and institutions at all levels, are walking on eggshells".