Ricky Lee Neely was born on June 19, 1981, to a Korean mother and an American father.

In 2005 he arrived in South Korea to volunteer and teach English on the side, then left the country to continue traveling around the world.

But having made the decision to pursue a career in entertainment, he returned four months later and began handing out his profile to modeling and talent agencies.

He also appeared in several seasons of Law of the Jungle, a travel-reality show in which a cast of celebrities go to exotic locations such as Namibia, Papua, Vanuatu, Siberia, Madagascar, and New Zealand, and are left to explore and survive in nature.

[4] Kim met musical theatre actress Ryu Seung-joo while working with Compassion, an international NGO both are active in.